U of M, MnSCU want more than $275 million for capital improvements

It’s not a traditional bonding year for the Legislature, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t capital improvement needs at the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

That was the message representatives of both of the state’s public postsecondary institutions delivered Wednesday to the House Higher Education Policy and Finance Committee as they made their respective pitches for funding to cover a variety of improvements and rehabilitation projects to facilities across the state.

Rep. Bud Nornes

HF1605, sponsored by Committee Chair Rep. Bud Nornes (R-Fergus Falls), reflects the $198.5 million request by MnSCU and $77 million request by the university.

The committee approved the bill and sent it to the House Capital Investment Committee. It has no Senate companion.

The majority of the university’s request – $55 million – would be dedicated to its HEAPR (Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement) fund, which is responsible for maximizing effectiveness and extending life of facilities across its five-campus system.

The university is also seeking $18 million to replace its veterinary isolation laboratories and $4 million for a replacement of its greenhouse, which is primarily used for educational and research purposes, both located on the St. Paul campus.

The current greenhouse, which is 10,000 square feet and features plant collections from six distinct biomes, is long past its useful life, said Monique Mackenzie, director in the university’s capital planning and project management department.

MnSCU’s HEAPR and demolition request totals $72.5 million. Its capital projects request totals $126 million and would fund several projects on many of its 31 campuses across the state. Some of those planned projects include:

• $22.6 million for Phase 2 of the Winona State University education village project;
• $18.6 million for renovation to Eastman Hall, the St. Cloud State University recreation facility;
• $18.1 million for replacement of Hagg Sauer Hall, the largest lecture hall at Bemidji State University;
• $11.9 million for expanded academic and student services space at Rochester Community and Technical College;
• $10 million for new academic and student services space at Northeast Higher Education District in Hibbing;
• $7.7 million for expanded classroom space for transportation and emerging technologies programs at Dakota County Technical College;
• $2.1 million for expansion of the automotive manufacturing space at Anoka Technical College; and
• $1.32 million for classroom renovations at Century College.