Bemidji State University might be one step closer to securing funding for its new academic learning center thanks to funding included in Senate Republican Bonding proposal, released May 9. The plan authorizes $22.512 million in capital funding to allow BSU to replace the aging Hagg-Sauer Hall with a state-of-the-art facility. The old building had risen to the top priority for the Minnesota State bonding list.

“The current Hagg-Sauer Hall has ranked as MNSCU’s top capital investment priority this year, and when you visit the building you can see that it’s depreciating at a rapid pace and is reaching the end of its lifespan,” said Senator Justin Eichorn (R-Grand Rapids). “Rather than continue to pump money into short-termed maintenance that keeps the building only semi-functional we’re better served with a new facility that better engages our students and prepares them for the future.”

The new Hagg-Sauer Academic Learning Center will be a new 27,700-square-foot facility, less than a third of the size of the current 82,000-square-foot building. It will feature advanced technology and a variety of classrooms explicitly designed to promote student engagement and collaboration during the learning process.

Demolition and new construction will erase a maintenance backlog of $9.3 million on the current facility. Additionally, the new building will increase academic space, reduce the university’s carbon footprint, and save the school $66,000 in utilities and maintenance every year.