MOORHEAD - When a new expansion opens Monday at Minnesota State Community and Technical College, it will already be full of students.
The two-story addition was badly needed for the growing Moorhead campus, which had about 3,700 students last fall.
"We would have been in a great deal of trouble if this space had not been available," said Provost Jerry Migler.
The 26,000-square-foot expansion provides nine new classrooms, several faculty offices and the first collegiate library for the campus that was formerly a technical college.
Classroom space has been tight for the Moorhead campus, which was holding some overflow classes in the auditorium and the Higher Education Center.
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The campus first identified a need for a new library in 1993. Most recently, the library was located in a windowless room that used to house the graphic arts department.
The new library has tall ceilings, large windows letting in natural light and double the amount of seating for students.
"The contrast from what we had to what we have now is really quite striking," Migler said.
The new library also has several group study rooms, something the campus lacked before.
"It's just a better learning atmosphere," said librarian Perry Werner.
The location of the new library will allow it to be open Sunday nights and extended hours in the future, something the library couldn't do in the past without keeping the entire campus open, Werner said.
Faculty and staff touring the new addition for the first time called it "gorgeous."
Sociology instructor Jeff Bry, who is moving into his new office this week, said students will like the improvements.
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"This is more of a true college feel," Bry said.
The campus, which once had lockers lining the hallways, used to reflect the look of a high school, Migler said.
But other recent improvements, along with this expansion, reinforce the college's mission change to community college.
"It puts the exclamation point on the changes we've been trying to make," Migler said.
In the future, the new addition will be the main entrance to campus.
The $5.4 million project was funded by the Minnesota Legislature.
There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 19.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Amy Dalrymple at (701) 241-5590
