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Historic Building Profiles

Gray Campus Laboratory School / Engineering and Computing Center (1958)

The teaching of teachers has been a core function of St. Cloud State University since its establishment in 1869. From 1869 to 1983, a campus “model” school was part of campus, and in several different buildings, giving teachers in training a place to observe “master” teachers teach children as well as have a place to do their own student teaching. The Thomas J. Gray Campus Laboratory School was the final building to house the school.

Gray Campus Lab School, 1958

Funding and Construction

With $800,000 appropriated by the state in 1955, construction began in July 1957. The building, which replaced Riverview to house the laboratory school, was designed by two firms – Traynor and Hermanson and Gausman and Moore. The building’s main contractor was Art Wahl and Son.

Naming

The building opened in time for the 1958 fall session and was simply called the "Campus Laboratory School." In August 1962, the state college board renamed it the “Thomas J. Gray Campus Laboratory School” to honor Thomas Gray. Gray graduated in 1872 and hired the next year as a faculty member. Gray served as St. Cloud State president from 1884 to 1890. In 1890, Gray left St. Cloud State to be president of the Greeley Normal School, now the University of Northern Colorado.

Thomas Gray, 1884-1890

1962 Addition

In 1959, a year after the building opened, the state legislature appropriated additional funds to complete the building. Designed by Traynor and Hermanson, construction began in May 1961 on the $283,413 addition for a gymnasium, dressing rooms, two physical education offices, two conference rooms, equipment storage, and industrial arts and arts areas.

The contractors were Kratochvil and Company (general), Erickson Electrical Service (electrical), Phil Thometz and Son (plumbing and ventilating), and St. Cloud Plumbing and Heating (heating).

Dedication

The building was dedicated on October 26, 1958, along with Mitchell Hall and Math and Science building (later named Brown Hall).

Engineering and Computing Center, 1980s

Closing of Lab School and New Use

The Gray Campus Laboratory School closed in the spring of 1983. Though the training of teachers was still part of the overall university curriculum, St. Cloud State decided not to operate its own laboratory school.

In late 1983, the building was referred to as the “Engineering and Computing Center” and slated for renovation. The renovation was designed to house Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics and Statistics, Academic Computer Services, and the Child Care Center.

The 1984 state legislature appropriated $3.5 million to "plan and renovate" the now closed building.

Renovation and construction for the new addition, designed by Pauly and Olsen Associates / Traynor, Hermanson, and Hahn, began in August 1985 and completed in time for the 1986 fall quarter. A new two-story north wing added containing 52 additional offices. The general contractor was Donlar Construction.

In addition to the new structure for offices and general renovation, engineering labs and individual faculty labs were built, windows added to the gymnasium, and wiring upgraded.

The building was dedicated once more, this time as the Engineering and Computing Center, on September 12, 1986.

The building closed in the fall of 2024.

The blueprints for Gray Campus Laboratory School / Engineering and Computing Center as completed in 1958, are available on the University Archives’ Search portal.

Construction, 1958?

Gymnasium, 1960s

Classroom, 1960s

Northside construction, September 1985

Beehive computer lab, the former gymnasium, July 1986

Additional sources:

Other sources used: Chronicle articles on January 22, 1957, April 30, 1957, April 29, 1958, October 21, 1958, June 22, 1983, November 4, 1983, and July 24, 1985.

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