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TEST - Historic Building Profiles

Centennial Hall (1971)

When the doors opened at the Third State Normal School on September 15, 1869, campus always had a library. Thanks to the Baby Boomers coming of age, the rapid growth of enrollment began in the late 1950s and continued until the early 1970s. It became clear that a new campus library was desperately needed to be relevant.

Centennial Hall, 1971

Planning and Funding

Planning for a new campus library began in the early 1960s. Kiehle Library, which opened in 1952, was designed to serve a student population of 2,000. By 1965, St. Cloud State’s enrollment was almost 7,000 students. With a projected enrollment of 10,000 by 1970, it was Kiehle Library had to be replaced. In addition, a new library provided an opportunity for a new direction – the library to include media and technology to support St. Cloud State’s instructional program. The library to be a “learning resources center.”

To build a new library building, the 1965 and 1967 Minnesota state legislative sessions appropriated $4 million as well as a $400,000 federal grant. Campus planners originally envisioned the library to be built in two phases. They realized the impact of rising construction costs could be held to a minimum if built all at once.

Groundbreaking

St. Cloud State kicked off its centennial celebration with Heritage Day on October 2, 1968. The main event was groundbreaking for the new library building. Centennial Hall, described as the "new campus focal point" and the “official Centennial year building,” was to be built on the intersection of 7th Street South and 3rd Avenue South. Participating in the groundbreaking were Minnesota state college chancellor Theodore Mitau, Minnesota governor Harold LeVander, St. Cloud State president Robert Wick, and City of St. Cloud mayor Edward Henry.

St. Cloud Mayor Edward L. Henry, Chancellor G. Theo Mitau, St. Cloud State president Robert H. Wick, and Minnesota Governor Harold LaVander at the Centennial Hall groundbreaking, October 2, 1968

Construction

According to a March 18, 1969, press release, the Wahl Construction Company was hired as the general contractor with a bid of $1.9 million. Other winning bids were Holm Bros Plumbing-Heating (mechanical), $266,700, Weidners Plumbing-Heating (HVAC), $355,000, and Granite City Electric (electrical) $419,276.

Designed by architects S.C. Smiley and Associates, construction began in March 1969 and was slated to open in May 1970. Due to delays related to construction and a worker's strike, the building opened in May 1971.

Totaling 178,000 square feet, the four-story library was designed to seat 2,200 people, make accessible 470,000 books, and shaped as a rectangle measuring 154 feet by 244 feet. The building was constructed with reinforced concrete with brick paneling and built so two stories could be added to the roof with no further structural alterations.

According to the May 1972 dedication program, the ground floor contained the campus computer center, technical services, TV production services, and a study area. The first floor was home to the library administrative offices, card catalog, technical services, lecture room and classrooms. The second floor contained Special Collections (including archival material), curriculum material, photography laboratory, and offices for the academic department of Library and Audio-Visual Education. The third floor housed reference services and reference collection, periodicals, microfilm, classrooms, study carrels, and offices. The fourth and top floor included the bulk of the circulating book collection, 80 enclosed study carrels, and two study rooms.

Centennial Hall also featured RRAIRS (Remote Random Access Information Retrieval System. 30 RRAIRS stations allowed users to access this material from a remote location.

Centennial Hall construction, 1969

Naming and Grand Opening

At the November 20, 1967, Minnesota state college board meeting, the building was named Centennial Hall: Learning Resources Center to honor St. Cloud State’s centennial year as well as reflect the library’s expanded role in learning and instruction. As with many campus buildings constructed in the 1960s, another name proposed for Centennial Hall but tabled. At the board’s January 11, 1966 meeting, St. Cloud State proposed to name the yet-to-be constructed building “Grannis-Martin Library” to honor two long-time librarians Edith Grannis and Mamie Martin.

Even though St. Cloud State was during its spring quarter, Centennial Hall officially opened in late May 1971. Kiehle Library closed in late April 1971 and materials were moved to the new over the next month. During the summer of 1971, various areas within the building were completed. A dedication was held in early May 1972.

Library Move to Miller Center and the Herberger Business School

Planning for another new campus library began in the early 1990s. The James W. Miller Learning Resources Center opened in August 2000. No longer serving as the campus library, Centennial Hall sat mostly empty (though the new campus bookstore opened in time for the fall 2001 academic term) until it could serve another purpose.

The 2003 and 2005 Minnesota state legislative sessions appropriated $13.3 million to renovate Centennial Hall while campus raised and contributed another $2.2 million, including a $500,000 gift from the Herberger family. GLTArchitects were hired to design and oversee the renovation, which began in stages starting in 2006. With the renovation complete for the 2007 fall semester, Centennial Hall's primary purpose was to house the Herberger Business School, including its academic departments. Other campus units in the building included the Career Services Center, Honors program, Undergraduate Studies, and Husky Bookstore.

A renovation celebration of Centennial Hall was held on April 24, 2008.

In the summer of 2025, the bookstore moved to Atwood Memorial Center while the Center for International Studies moved into part of the former bookstore space. A study area was also created there as well.

Architecture

Rectangular in shape, each floor was cantilevered to provide shade for the floor below. Sculptural in design, the building was influenced by Swiss architect Le Corbusier’s 1955 High Court building in Punjab, India. Centennial Hall is constructed of reenforced concrete with red brick that softens the gray, concrete walls. The 2007 renovation ruined the building’s sculptural aspect when windows were punched into the walls of the top story.

The blueprints for Centennial Hall, as completed in 1971, are available on the University Archives’ Search portal.

Architect rendering, Centennial Hall, 1969

Students study at Centennial Hall, 1970s

Centennial Hall, 1970s

Sources

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