Holes Hall (1965)
As the 1960s progressed and Baby Boomers were seeking a higher education, St. Cloud State’s physical campus continued to grow quickly, especially student housing. Two new dormitories, Hill Hall (1962) and Case Hall (1964), were built since 1962 and Shoemaker Hall, originally opened in 1915, got a 400-bed addition to its north and south ends in 1960. Construction continued to house the large and increasingly growing student body at St. Cloud State.
Holes Hall, 1970s
Naming and Funding
On September 19, 1964, the state college board named the residence hall in honor of local businessman Wilbur W. Holes. Holes served as St. Cloud State’s resident director, representing the school at the state college board from 1947 to 1958. He was instrumental in developing the revenue bond financing plan at Minnesota state colleges, which helped fund construction at other state college campuses. Holes Hall was no exception – the building was funded through “self-liquidating revenue bonds, not state funds.” These bonds were to be repaid from room rental income.
Construction and Opening
Designed by Jackson-Hahn Associates, construction was scheduled to begin in late July 1964. With a budget of $1.2 million, Wahl Construction Company commenced its work as the general contractor. Other contractors included Sporleder Heating and Plumbing and Granite City Electric.
Construction lasted just over a year, and Holes Hall opened in September 1965 in time for the new academic year. Containing 400 beds for female students, each of the upper eight floors contained 26 double bedrooms and a study room. In addition, each floor had a central bathroom and laundry. The hallways were completely carpeted. While the upper eight floors housed students, the first floor served as a common area containing offices, a lounge with a television, and a recreation room.
Before Holes Hall was completed, work began on a new nearly identical building nearby. Stearns Hall opened in the fall of 1966 and contained 400 beds.
Wilbur Holes, 1956
Part of Residence Hall Complex
Holes Hall was also a departure from student residence plans at St. Cloud State at the time. Plans were circulated as late as November 1963 to make future residence halls look all the same and be in a set pattern like Hill Hall and Case Hall. By the time Holes Hall went to bid in May 1964, plans changed. Why? A reason given appeared in a July 17, 1964, press release. It stated the high rise building of nine stories was “for economy of space and maximum use of land.” An architect’s rendering of the building, which appeared in the July 28, 1964, edition of the Chronicle, gave a look at what Holes Hall would look like when completed. It was the first high-rise residence hall built at St. Cloud State.
With the opening of Holes Hall in the fall 1965, St. Cloud State increased its on-campus housing capacity to 2,050 to serve a student population of 6,169 students, up over a 1,000 students from the fall 1964. Total enrollment had doubled since 1959.
Dedication
Along with Case Hall and Halenbeck Hall, Holes Hall was dedicated on October 16, 1965.
Closing and Demolition
Holes Hall closed in the fall of 2014 and was demolished in June 2016.
The blueprints for Holes Hall as it looked when it opened in 1965 are available in the University Archives' Search portal.
Construction, 1965
Architect's rendering, July 1964
Proposed dormitory complex, June 1962
Additional sources:
- Dedication program for Holes Hall, Halenbeck Hall, and Case Hall, October 16, 1965
- Press release, July 17, 1964