The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-04-27
PUSHING WORK ON
TEACHERS COLLEGE
Model School Building In
Course Construction
WILL COST $5Oo,OOO
J.B.Nelsen Construction Com
pany Have Entire
Contract

Mankato will soon be able to
beast of one of the finest school
buildings in the entire northwest.
This is the new Mankato Teachers
College which is now in course of
construction by the J. b. Nielsen
Company OF this city. The contract
price for the structure is 100000,
but will cost upwards OF that figure
when completed. The new building
is TO replace the old one which was
completely destroyed by fire on Sun
day February 3, 1922.
Ihe site OF the new structure GER
tainIy presented a busy scene tniS
morning, the J. Is. Nielsen company
having an immense amount OF labor
saving machinery on the grounds TO
aid in rushing the school 10 compile
ton. Among the large machines Oh
the ground Is a steam shovel, stone
Crusher, three concrete mixers, two
steam noiSts and an electric saw. A
great saving was made through US
ing the old foundations which were
crushed in the cruusher operated on
the grounds by the Nielsen Con-
tstructIon Company and then used in
building. Seventeen thousand feet
OF lumber was required for the
false work for the concrete, on the
south and central wings. This lum
Der has been removed and will be
used again in the construction of the
north and auditorium wings OF the
structure. Two trucks and many
teams are kept busy every day haul
ing material TO the grounds.
i Large Crew Workers
The company checks up a large
crew Of men every two hours as to
the class OF work they are doing
Metal tags are used in time keeping
c. NJ. Serkland has charge OF the
cost and time keeping. An electric
horn is installed in the office ioi
the purpose OF announcing the start
ing and quitting time. rhe weekly
pay of the J. B. Nielsen Company on
this job is approximately $3,0VJ
Work on the south and central
wings of the structure were started
on September 20. The north wing
and auditorium wing, the construc
calls for completion December 15.
Architect Albert Schippel Of this
city is acting as superintendent Of
construction for the state board oil
control.
Ready For Plastering
The new main building, or south
and central wings which were start
ed September 20, are practically un
| der roof and ready for plastering. Al
present the first story OF this part o!
the school is about two thirds plas
tered. The dimensions of the south
wing are 64x202 feet and three stor-
les high. fire proof throughout The
central wing has floor dimensions OIL
5Ox152. This wing has a fourth
story or tower. which will be USED
as a-museum. The mechanical wors
consisting OF plumbing. heating
ventilating and electric work have
progressed along with the other
work.
Mankato cut stone is being used
as the trimming, and Springfield
face brick for the front facings OF
the buildings already completed
show off those two materials to
great advantage. The general de-
sign is artistic. and the institation
when completed will be both a cred
! il to Mankato and the state OF Min
nesota.
The Other Wings
The north wing and the auditor
ium wing, for which excavations
have already been commenced by
| the J. B. Nielsen company, is design
! ed the same as the south wing and
auditorium wing. The north wing has
floor dimensions OF 64X206 feet and
the auditorium wing, S4x101 feet
The library of the school will occupy
two floor ofthe east half of the north
wing, but this wing will be run
three stories in height to correspond
with the height Of the rest OF the
building.
Other Contractors
The auditorium wing will have a
seating capacity Of 81S, and will
have a large, spacious stage and
dressing rooms to the side.
The Cuddy Plumbing & Heating
tract for the heating plum bling anc
ventilating.
The Langford Electric Company oil
Minneapolis has the contract for the
electric lighting and wiring.
A. A. Zimmerman of this city has
| the contract for the roofing and
sheet metal work of the south and
central wings, and the Schwickert
Hardware company of this city, the
contract for the roofing and sheer
metal work of the north wing ano
auditorium wing.
| The school is being constructed in
| an absolutely fire proof manner al
stairways, ETC., being or concrete.
The ]. B. Nielsen Construction
Company has to it's credit a number
Of fine school edifices in this city
The training school at the Mankatc
Teachers College, which escaped the
fire; Good Counsel Academy; Beth
tany College: Mankato Commercial
College; and North Mankato school
In addition to this many business
buildings.