Swain Hall ribbon cutting to show Minot State's continued commitment to education
The public is invited to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony that will mark the reopening of Swain Hall, a key education building on the campus of Minot State University. The ribbon cutting will take place on Tuesday (Aug. 17) at 11 a.m., in front of the south entrance to Swain Hall. that evening, a Minot Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event will also be held in Swain Hall from 5 till 7 p.m.
"Swain Hall 2010: Strengthening our Commitment to Education" will feature tours of the completely renovated building, a look back at Swain Hall through the years and hors d’oeuvres. Invited dignitaries who plan to attend include Governor John Hoeven, Congressman Earl Pomeroy, North Dakota University System Chancellor Bill Goetz, State Board of Higher Education President Jon Backes, State Senator Karen Krebsbach, State Representative Matt Klein and others.
Swain Hall underwent a complete overhaul in the past two years. The new Swain Hall now houses the Department of Teacher Education and Human Performance. By taking advantage of previously unusable space, a third floor was created in the space that used to be the gymnasium bleachers, and four new classrooms were added to the building. The basement was opened up and now features high-tech athletic training equipment that will be used by students as they take health, physical education and recreation courses. The former gymnasium has been converted to a pedagogy lab, and it will be the primary location for physical education classes as well as fitness courses. With three phases of construction, Minot State worked with three separate general contractors, Environmental Plant Services of St. Paul, Minn., Mackley Construction of Minot and Mattson Construction of Minot. The total cost to renovate Swain Hall will come in just under $13 million.
A cover charge of $5 will apply to those attending the Business After Hours event. Unrestricted parking west of the Gordon B. Olson Library and in the Old Main loop off of University Ave is available for both the ribbon cutting and the Business after Hours.
Media who wish to tour the facility in advance of the ribbon cutting should plan on arriving by 10 a.m., tours will also be given after the ribbon-cutting ceremony. For questions, contact 858-3065 or mark.lyman@minotstateu.edu.
08/12/10