UW-Stout Harvey Hall

Menomonie, WI

Inserting an educational program into a historic building involved a top-to-bottom renovation at UW-Stout’s Harvey Hall.

The campus’ largest facility, at five stories and 92,000 square feet, was originally built in 1916. The renovation goal was to create a state-of-the-art academic center within the historic structure, thereby maintaining the integrity of the façade while housing a hard-working interior capable of handling the demands of today’s tech-savvy students.

Adhering to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Places, the envelope of the original Domestic Science Building remains intact on all primary elevations with a three-story addition strategically positioned to minimize its visual impact on the original exterior. A rooftop penthouse is located in the middle of the roof and lowers into the attic space in order to reduce its presence when viewed from the pedestrian level.

The interior is completely renovated to meet the needs for progressive learning environments and adaptable offices. The interior was taken so far down to its bones that glass bottles, soda cans, animal remains, and a 1969 memo for a campus speaker were found. Several spaces deemed historically significant are restored to meet current standards for building systems and technology.

Classrooms and offices switched places. Classrooms are located on the first two floors and offices are on the third and fourth. Drop ceilings are removed and hallways feature 13-foot ceilings.