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2005 Historic Preservation Success Stories!
 The
former Northern School Supply building, located at 650 NP Ave in Fargo's downtown,
has been transformed into an interdisciplinary, shared facility that houses
the university's visual arts department, major components of the architecture
and landscape architecture department and the Tri-College University office.
The ten million dollar project includes studios, classrooms, a wood shop, digital
media room, gallery and an outdoor sculpture area. The structure, originally called the Robb-Lawrene Co. Warehouse, was constructed in 1903 to plans drawn by William C. Albrant, a former NDSU student. In 1920, Northern School Supply moved into the building, and became a downtown fixture for decades. The company, owned by School Specialty Inc., Appleton, WI, closed its doors in 1997. The building was slated for demolition in 2000. The building was saved from the wrecking ball when it was purchased by NDSU alumnus Doug Burgum, senior vice president at Microsoft Corp. Through a collaboration with the NDSU Development Foundation, City of Fargo as well as Mr. Burgum, the building was gifted to the university in 2001. Project funding also came from a historic preservation grant and a Renaissance Zone tax credit. The award provided recognition to the people and organizations that have played key roles in accomplishing the project. These included: Joseph Chapman, President of North Dakota State University, Doug Burgum, NDSU Art and Architecture Department, NDSU Alumni Association, NDSU Development Foundation, City of Fargo and the Fargo Planning Commission and Michael J. Burns Architects, LTD.
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