A second story addition to the Help's Dining Room Building has provided much needed bedroom accommodation for women servants at a comparatively small outlay. The Nurses Home Building is under construction. It is designed in the Colonial style and built of red brick with stone trimmings; the roof being covered with green slate. The interior is of fireproof construction and conveniently planned, the equipment, etc., being modern in every respect. ROCHESTER. The appropriation for a building connecting the main building with the West Detached Ward building being found inadequate the project was temporarily set aside. There have been no general building operations at this institution. HASTINGS. The appropriation for improvements in Administration Building at the institution have resulted in a thorough remodelling of the building. A new front with large entrance porch being provided and an entire 3rd story added for men's bedrooms. An amusement hall in 2nd story rear the full size of dining room below was constructed at the same time. Cottage No. 2 for women is under construction; this building is similar to cottage No. 1 with minor exceptions and is of fireproof construction. ANOKA. Cottage No. 2 for women is practically finished and like that at Hastings is of fireproof construction and in general similar to cottage No. 1. The Administration Building has been improved in manner similar to Hastings except that the amusement hall was not included. OWATONNA. A new laundry building has been erected at this institution; it is of brick of modest size but of convenient plan and serves its purpose in a satisfactory manner. The loss of the barn, by fire, at this institution necessitated the erection of a new dairy barn and silo; the building is of frame but the ground floor, stalls and mangers are of cement; future additions as money permits, will ultimately make it a model structure. FEEBLE MINDED. Owing to inadequate appropriations the Central Kitchen Building proposed at this institution was laid over for future consideration; this applied also to the Farm Cottage Dining Room as well as to the Engineers' Cottage; plans for all the above buildings were prepared but could not be used for lack of funds. During this biennial period minor improvements have been made in the Epileptic Cottages and a new brick fireproof Administration Building erected. The Tuberculosis Hospital is another of the new buildings finished within the past two years the building has been very carefully planned in line with the best precedents and not only provides for a modern planned hospital but the unique type of design adopted adds a conspicuously pleasing building to the feeble minded group. A large stone addition to the shop building together with a rearrangement of 2nd story of old shop building, affords increased accommodations for this useful branch of the institution. In addition to the above buildings improvements have been made in the laundry building and extensive plumbing improvements are under way in the south wing of main building. SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND. At this institution a much needed improvement has been made in building a new boiler house and coal shed and rearranging of steam heating piping. SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF. No building improvements have been made at this institution. for the past two years and repairs have been few in number. TRAINING SCHOOL. The loss, by fire, of a part of the laundry and shop building at the Training School caused a rebuilding of the damaged work at which time the interior construction was built fireproof. A small brick fireproof guard house and hospital has been added to this institution during the past two years; the building though small is substantial, and well planned and serves a useful purpose. REFORMATORY. Since the last report continued operations have practically completed the new south cell block; this building may safely be said to be the equal of any in the country for thoroughness of construction, lighting and sanitary equipment and general convenience; the exterior presents a large dignified facade, satisfactory in every way. Progress on the Administration or Central building has been slow owing to necessity of completing the Cell Block first. Considerable work however has been done on this building, the granite walls having been carried up to roof line and interior structural steel work including steel roof trusses erected. Operations connected with building of inclosure granite walls to replace the old wood stockade have progressed slowly during the past summer and a section of the wall completed, ready for finished stone coping. Many improvements and betterments of a minor nature have gone forward in addition to the above increasing the comfort and convenience of various parts of the institution. STATE PRISON. A beginning has been made with the shop buildings proposed for the new prison site and much preliminary work on the general plan of the entire new prison group of buildings. Actual building operations however, have not yet begun. At the old prison minor improvements only have been made as necessity required. NORMAL SCHOOLS. DULUTH. At the Normal School, a commodious brick fireproof building has been completed as a ladies' hall or dormitory. The structure is located on a commanding site and although of simple design it presents an attractive domestic appearance satisfactory to all concerned. ST. CLOUD. Since the last report, Lawrence Hall, dormitory for girls, has been completed and a new brick building for the model school work at the same institution finished and occupied. In addition to the above, considerable repair work and improvements of a general nature have been made at the same institution. MANKATO AND WINONA. No new buildings have been erected at either of the above institutions but under the Normal Board improvements at Mankato have been made in a new entrance porch to main building, and a new library building wing. UNIVERSITY. PATHOLOGICAL BUILDING. Progress on the new building for the Institute of Public Health and Pathology at the University has continued uninterrupted for the past two years; the structure is now completed and presents a dignfied and attractive addition to the university group. MAIN BUILDING. Contracts for the new main building, were awarded early in 1906 and excellent progress has been made towards its completion. Annoying delays, due to difficulty in obtaining granite have prevented the rapid progress otherwise possible but contractors are sanguine in having the entire building completed on contract time, July 1907. The building is a noteworthy one in many ways, due to its size, the character of construction and the beauty of design. It will represent the best type of construction of this class and for many years to come will be the dominant building at this institution. |