Since the late 1970's, the IS building has housed employee offices, classrooms, college plays and choir concerts, the academic support center, and student clubs and organizations. It is being demolished because deferred maintenance costs exceeded the value of the buildings. One of the pole-barn buildings will remain in-tact to house physical education and wellness courses until the new community center - part of the Armed Forces Reserve Center - is constructed.
"This has been a deliberate demolition process. We felt it was important that we recycle or reuse as much material as possible," says Mike Seymour, Vice President for Administration. "We have explored and proceeded with an environmentally-friendly approach to liquidating the building. The state took some items to be re-sold in surplus stores and a good portion of the contents went to the Cambridge-Isanti and Braham school systems.”
According to Kurt Kahlenbeck of the Braham Area High School, the donated furnishings are valuable to the institution. “They will help to fill gaps or upgrade substandard items in our building.”
The college has also saved portions of the green, metal siding to preserve a piece of history for the alumni or foundation offices to use at future events.
The demolition contractor, Skogquist Excavation has now taken ownership of the remaining structure and is taking care to slowly take it down and best preserve materials for reuse. Skogquist plans to reuse or sell the electrical outlets, panels and lights; metals such as copper wire and steel siding; and appliances including furnaces, air conditioners, and a refrigerator.
Skogquist Excavation has scheduled an online auction for July 20 to sell some of the remaining materials. To participate in the auction, visit www.buyU2.com.
ARCC is now enthusiastically preparing for the Building Dedication Ceremony, Aug. 23, at the newly-completed 34,000 square foot addition to the Campus Center building.
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