Heating Plant / Physical Plant

The original heating plant was built between 1898 and 1899 at a cost of $4,000.⁴¹ In 1907 the smokestack was added, and the building was expanded in 1913 to include the power house.⁴²

Construction of the Physical Plant presently on campus began in 1970 and was completed in 1971. The 12,270 square foot new plant features three boilers, providing up to 221,000 square feet of radiation, a central warehouse for campus deliveries, offices, motor pool, and electrical, paint, plumbing, mechanical, and carpenter workshops⁴⁴ all at a price tag of $463,704.16.²⁶ The old, obsolete plant was unable to adequately serve the heating needs of the campus and was removed to make way for the new plant.

In 1941 the college held a memorial for Claude Tyrrell, former Superintendent of Buildings, who suffered a fatal scaffold accident while inspecting what was then East Wing.⁴⁶ Claude’s son was born the same year and later served Dakota State Director of Special Services, dean, and registrar.⁴⁶ He retired as “Dean Emeritus” in 1970 only to become director of the Smith-Zimmerman State Historical Museum.⁴⁶ On December 9, 1978, there was a formal naming ceremony of the Tyrell Building housing the Dakota State College Physical Plant held at the Ruth Habeger Science Center Auditorium.⁴⁶ The naming honored the Tyrell family who had given a combined total of 60 years of service to Dakota State College.⁴⁶

Dakota State University • All rights Reserved
Completed by Spring 2004 Class of English 401
Last updated Spring 2004