Features

Renovation and reuse
of oldest Dakota
Wesleyan building

Compliment to
adjacent George
McGovern Library
project and Close
designed Dakota
Discovery Museum

Entire building
veneer of Sioux
Quartzite

Graham Hall, Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell, SD

The oldest building on the Dakota Wesleyan University campus, Graham Hall had different memories for alumni over the years. The University asked Puetz Construction of Mitchell and Close Associates, the team who had just completed the Dakota Discovery Museum on campus, to envision a renovated role for Graham Hall. Plans called for restoration of the beautiful Sioux Quartzite exterior, construction of a pavilion to house new mechanicals, conversion of the attic to offices, and the addition of an elevator and other accessibility improvements. This rendering was a useful tool for studying these improvements with the client and was to be used to inform and encourage the University community to support the project.

Unfortunately, the University instead chose to demolish Graham Hall and salvage its quartzite for the new McGovern Library nearby. Graham Hall’s siting at the brow of the Campus row hill established a strong East/West Campus axis. This physical piece of University history will be sorely missed.