August 18, 2025
Construction is at its peak as the renovated Old Main approaches its summer 2026 debut.
Mayville State University is marking a major milestone in the renovation of the historic Old Main building this summer: one year until completion. With a little less than twelve months until the project’s slated completion in the summer of 2026, the renovation has entered one of its most intense and transformative phases. The construction site is buzzing, with more workers on site than at any other time and major progress taking shape on key parts of the building.
Old Main’s revival blends preservation and innovation, honoring the legacy of the university while reimagining how the space will serve future generations. From the construction teams managing day-to-day tasks to alumni touring the hallways, there’s a growing sense of momentum and excitement as the building steadily evolves from a work zone into a revitalized campus hub.
To take on such a monumental project, Mayville State turned to the experts at PCL Construction and Community Contractors. In 2013, PCL formed an official partnership with Community Contractors, creating a joint venture that has since delivered more than 20 projects together. PCL is one of the largest construction firms on the continent - handling over $11 billion of work annually - first connected with the university in the summer of 2024. Starting with ancillary projects such as the elevator in the campus center and modifications to classrooms and office space in preparation for staff moving out of Old Main, they took full control of the site in December of 2024.
As the project’s superintendent, Jeff Lorber brings a wealth of experience to lead the team transforming Old Main. Jeff is employed by PCL Construction’s Midwest Division, which is based in Minneapolis and has additional offices in Fargo and Grand Forks. With 25 years in the construction industry, including 20 years as a superintendent, Jeff possesses the right combination of project experience and local knowledge to ensure the project's success.
“This summer is busy, because if you get a bad spring, it can put you in a tough spot,” Jeff said. “Knowing when we were going to kick off the project, we had to figure out how to mitigate risk on the exterior activities.”
Since Midwestern winters can be extreme and unpredictable, Jeff and his team are pushing to complete 80% of the site and exterior work by the end of 2025. To reach this goal, a peak number of workers were on site throughout the month of July. They worked on a range of tasks that included pouring site concrete and working on the exterior of the building.
Balancing a complex schedule, Jeff has been mobilizing and coordinating the interior trades people. The mechanical team completed hanging duct work on the fourth floor. When that team departed, they were replaced by the framing contractor team of 20-25 workers, who are focusing on Old Main’s interior wood. The interior wood makes up most of the building, although there will be plenty of the original brick remaining.
The renovation began at the top of the building and will move down as the workers progress. If crews load the weight of the materials starting from the top, by the time they get to the bottom of the building where compression is significant, they can minimize stress cracks and fractures.
“That’s how we bring in our trades, from the top down” explained Jeff. “There will be 100-110 workers through the rest of the summer, after averaging around 60 people previously.”
With so much activity, safety is the first priority. The first thing that PCL Construction did when they took control of the Old Main site was set up perimeter fencing and complete “make safe” activities, such as addressing missing guard rails, holes in the floor, and structural issues like old brick headers that had to be secured to keep workers safe. The company blocked off Third Avenue as well, making it part of their construction space. Traffic to the daycare center on the north side of campus has been redirected to avoid heavy equipment and trucks.
Most of this peak summer work has taken place when students aren’t around. When there have been large groups of people visiting campus - such as when the about 150 football players and coaches were at Mayville State for Shrine Bowl pre-game practices and activities in June, and an additional approximately 2,000 people came to watch the games - Jeff and his team made sure there were no traffic or activities outside the fence, aside from underground utility work.
Despite the flurry of renovation work, MSU Alumni Association board members were able to tour the building in June so they could observe the progress. Doug Anderson, who attended Mayville State in the early 1970s, was struck by how different the building currently looks under construction.
“As I entered the south entrance, I recognized the wood staircase, but after that, some areas I recognized and others I didn’t,” Doug said.
Even with construction noise in the background as he walked Old Main’s halls, Doug could still remember the voices of some of his instructors: Luella Mundel, Dr. James Neilson, Cliff Maisel, Harvey McMullen, Arvella Holsclaw, and many others. He also marveled at the immense expertise and manual labor to build the original Old Main more than 100 years ago.
For most alumni like Doug and Kayla Evenstad, the feeling of sadness as they said goodbye to the old version of the building has given way to excitement. Kayla, who graduated from MSU in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, was impressed at the progress she saw during the tour.
“It’s remarkable to see not only new history being made, but also pieces of the past uncovered as the project evolves,” said Kayla. “While the Larson Center has long been considered the ‘living room’ of campus - a gathering place for both new students and alumni - the newly restored Old Main may soon rival it as the heart of the student experience.”
The project opens the future to new possibilities, offering better ways to serve the campus community.
“I’m looking forward to a beautiful new Old Main, which will be a great place for lectures and theater productions, a place to meet and greet, and a great place to be a Comet!” Doug concluded.
As the renovation of Old Main experiences its busiest and most transformative stage, the sense of anticipation across campus and the broader community is unmistakable. With just one year to go, this July marked a turning point: a moment when the vision for a renewed Old Main began to take physical shape. For alumni, students, staff, and neighbors watching the changes unfold, the project represents a bridge between legacy and future.
