St. Cloud State University Unveils Ambitious Campus Revamp Plan to Enhance Green Space and Efficiency

(KNSI) – St. Cloud State University is planning a major overhaul of its campus over the next 15 years.

St. Cloud State University

According to the school’s administration, the campus has more square feet of buildings per student than any other Minnesota State institution, so it is looking at removing several of the older vacant, closed or underused buildings and bulldozing the structures will allow for more green space and create a park-like environment in the heart of campus. The plan will eliminate the cost of maintaining the unused space.

St. Cloud State University

Over the next five years, SCSU also plans to realign the campus layout and eliminate vacant, closed and underutilized space, including demolishing old housing and academic buildings and instead focus on creating green spaces and walking paths throughout the school grounds. The university will begin implementing the new Comprehensive Facilities Plan over the coming months. The university will remove additional identified buildings over the next six to 15 years.

Some upgrades to SCSU include a possible new Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Manufacturing (STEAM) facility, apartment-style housing, renovating buildings on campus and additional walking paths and parking initiatives across campus.

Enrollment has tumbled from its peak of 18,300 in 2010 to just over 10,000 in 2023. Today, enrollment is closer to what it was in the 1960s, but the campus footprint hasn’t adjusted. SCSU officials say the ambitious plan will create a more vibrant and connected campus environment.

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