Viking Bold renovates physical campus

This is the fifth part of a continuing series on Viking Bold.

Augustana’s campus has undergone multiple changes since 2019, including the addition of Wagoner Hall and the Midco Arena, as well as renovations to the campus green, Morrison Commons and residence halls, like Bergsaker and Solberg. 

These changes all come as part of Viking Bold’s physical campus and IT pillar. Augustana’s strategic plan focuses on enhancing new and existing facilities to serve the university for the foreseeable future. 

“I am really pleased with how all of the physical campus and its improvements have unfolded to date,” President Stephanie Herseth Sandlin said. 

The pillar just completed phase one in 2023, and phases two and three are on track, despite how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the plan’s initial course. 

“Just the impact that that had on sourcing materials and the impact it had on labor and then those residual impacts of how people are utilizing their spaces is just very different than when we first started talking,” Whitney Jibben, assistant dean of students for community standards, said. 

Sophomore Amelia Klug said she has seen the campus modernize over her time at Augustana. 

“When I first toured, it didn’t seem quite as modern or competitive with other neighboring schools, but now it does seem to be catching up,” Klug said. 

Part 1a of the physical campus and IT pillar establishes criteria for decision making, setting priorities and resource allocation to implement a campus master plan for the university. 

“It’s kind of like a road map of ‘Here’s what our campus looks like today,’ and then we did a 20 to 25 year plan, so ‘What do we want it to look like 20 to 30 years from now?’” Shannan Nelson, chief financial officer and executive vice president, said.  

According to Nelson, the campus master plan has always existed but was redone in a more holistic manner in 2019 to include underground infrastructure, outdoor spaces and the physical campus. 

Part 1b of the pillar sets goals to enhance existing campus facilities to elevate the student experience. 

According to Nelson, the utility distribution system has been modernized by revamping the electrical grid for the north and south campus and updating the steam systems in the power plant. Additionally, the cooling systems have been upgraded to accommodate for the air conditioning in campus buildings. 

Part 1b discusses creating spaces designated for multicultural use across the campus. These spaces include the Journey Scholars’ living-learning community in Solberg and the meditation room in Wagoner. 

Campus Green updates

Part 1c discusses enhancements to campus infrastructure to meet the needs of current and future students. Phases one through three describe several new and existing spaces on campus. 

“In my opinion, the top two priorities were campus housing and then campus dining…anything that was related to the student experience,” Nelson said.  

The campus green underwent renovations beginning April 2022 to elevate the open area to a multi-use space. The campus green was re-sodded and now includes features such as lighting, the Viking Oasis retention pond, an amphitheater, a sand volleyball court and an intramural field.  

“We wanted it to be utilized by students 24/7,” Nelson said. “Whereas before it was just kind of a swamp, and it seemed like we just walked by it, now the vision is, hopefully, that it’s an interactive space.” 

Additionally, according to Nelson, the campus green renovations will continue once the south side of the Morrison Commons are redone. These renovations will feature a modernized campus patio and another amphitheater on the campus green’s north side.

Sophomore Elly Mulhair said she uses the field often to play intramural sports and likes that the lighting allows for longer playing time. 

“It’s a very fun environment, and it’s way more accessible to watch other teams and to have other teams watch you,” Mulhair said. 

Senior Victoria Bartell said they would like to see the campus green used in more ways. 

“I do wish that they would put more seating options out there,” Bartell said. “It would be nice to have picnic tables.”

The physical campus and IT pillar also describes a mixed-use development on the corner of 33rd Street and Grange Avenue. Today, the Midco Arena occupies the space. 

“The Midco Arena was part of the Viking Bold plan, so breaking ground on that a few years ago, and then getting to sit down for the first hockey game this spring was very exciting, a huge accomplishment,” Jibben said. 

Residence halls, Morrison Commons renovations

The Morrison Commons was identified as in need of renovations in this pillar. The lower level of the building underwent some construction in summer 2023 to remove the Huddle, implement Chick-fil-A and relocate Ole’s Outlet. 

According to Nelson, Commons renovations will resume beginning May 2024 to update the kitchen and serving station, create more seating options in the dining hall and establish a grand staircase to make a two-level dining hall. 

Additionally, the Siverson Lounge and Starbucks will move to the current C-Store location. Nelson said the C-store’s location for post renovations has not been decided yet. 

“It’s redoing the lounge, redoing the Starbucks, so that whole center area is going to look completely different,” Nelson said. 

Klug said she is excited for the rest of the Commons renovations, specifically the dining hall. 

“I think the space is lacking in some departments currently, and I think the renovations are going to help modernize it and make it more comfortable for students to be in,” Klug said. 

The pillar also identifies the need for a new residence hall, along with the renovation of current housing options. According to Jibben, housing worked with recruiting offices, like admissions and athletics, as well as the student body via surveys and focus groups to identify housing priorities. 

“A lot of what we heard was that they wanted spaces together, spaces to utilize for studying and then spaces that felt like they had a little bit more privacy,” Jibben said. 

Bartell lived in Wagoner last academic year and one semester this year and said they enjoyed their experience. 

“I love fancy air conditioning and heating, and I like to be able to change the air flow, like I can change the direction of it,” Bartell said. “Obviously having to not deal with the communal bathroom is really nice.The rooms are small, but at least the ceilings are high, so it makes up for it.”   

Bergsaker Hall and Solberg Hall underwent renovations during Viking Bold. Bergsaker was under construction during the 2021-2022 academic year while Solberg was closed during the 2022-2023 academic year. The renovations equipped the buildings with better accessibility, elevators and air conditioning, Jibben said. 

According to Jibben, infrastructure, finishes and asking whether the dorm is meeting the needs for the students on campus are all factors involved in the renovation process.   

“For Bergsaker and Solberg, the answer was no,” Jibben said. “As we are seeing with Tuve right now, that’s just in need of an infrastructure change, and Solberg and Bergsaker were in need of a finished change just to meet what students were looking for.” 

Mulhair currently lives in Solberg and said she is enjoying the updated facilities. 

“I really love the rooms and how spacious they are, and I really like the bathrooms because the sinks give you a communal aspect, but then you still have privacy,” Mulhair said.

According to Jibben, housing’s next focus for the Viking Bold plan is renovating Tuve Hall and building more campus apartments on the corner of 28th Street and Grange Avenue. 

Tuve Hall is currently closed and will remain closed next academic year for renovations. According to Jibben, renovation options are still being explored for the residence hall. 

The 28th Street and Grange Avenue apartments can be expected by July 2025. The four-story complex will have 43 units and feature two- and four-bedroom suites. 

Future renovations

The physical campus and IT pillar also describes renovating and repurposing Old Main and East Hall to align with the university’s programmatic needs.

“There’s not necessarily anything determined yet, but it’s an option that’s still being explored,” Jibben said.  

According to Jibben, an Old Main working group identified some different opportunities for the retired residence hall a few years ago. Those ideas are still under consideration; however, she said those renovations will be more of a tedious process because the buildings are connected and on the historical register.

The university also has plans to renovate the Chapel of Reconciliation as a part of the strategic plan. According to Herseth Sandlin, fundraising efforts for that project are ongoing, and the university will reassess the project this summer.

“We had the money raised before the market went up on us, and maybe by this spring and summer we can assess the market, we can assess what we have raised to date, we can assess the current design, hopefully raise a bit more money and make a decision as to whether or not we can start the construction of that project by the following spring,” Herseth Sandlin said.