Nestled within a forest of oak trees on the corner of Pillsbury Drive SE and Pleasant Street SE stands Eddy Hall, the oldest standing building at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. Unique in its five-story, Queen-Anne style structure and array of uses, Eddy Hall hosted many people up until its closure in 2011.

Yet, 140 years after welcoming its first students, faculty and staff, the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) will reopen its doors in 2028.

A brief history

Built in 1886, the Mechanic Arts Building — now Eddy Hall — served mathematics, drawing and engineering students, and housed laboratories. Over the years, it shifted to support the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, the School of Business, University Counseling and Consulting Services and KUOM, the campus radio station.

In 1984, the Old Campus Historic District — 13 buildings including Eddy Hall built during the first important phase of the University's physical development —  was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

A new purpose

By 2028, Eddy Hall will transform into an Education Opportunity Center, where current and prospective University and CEHD students will benefit from a central hub for academic advising and career readiness, along with three federally funded TRIO programs: Education Opportunity Programs, including Upward Bound, Student Support Services and the Ronald E. McNair Program. These programs help first-generation and limited-income students from high school to graduate school grow readiness, access and opportunity to higher education.

CEHD students can also expect a dedicated space for basic needs items and, of interest to commuters, lockers to store their belongings and a student lounge for food storage and preparation.

“We intend to create a space that is a welcoming home base where all of our students can see themselves, feel empowered to be themselves, and find the support, community and resources they need to thrive in the college and across the University,” says Amy Kampsen, director of student services in CEHD.

The building will include ample space for studying, collaboration and events. Designs aim to preserve many of its unique historical elements, while creating a bright, welcoming and uplifting space.

For faculty and staff, having these programs and teams under one roof will better promote cross-functional collaboration to create innovative initiatives that center all students' experiences and success.

“CEHD is a leader in education innovation,” says Rashné Jehangir, assistant dean for education opportunity programs and founding faculty director of the First-Gen Institute in CEHD. “Being situated in a building that serves students will allow for more partnerships that reflect research into practice.”

Investing in tomorrow 

Under President Rebecca Cunningham, the University is using an innovative internal funding strategy to restore historic Eddy Hall. Designed to complement traditional state capital requests and advance critical projects more quickly, the University’s Capital Investment Initiative will cover approximately two-thirds of the $33 million total project cost. CEHD is partnering to fund the remaining share through philanthropy and collegiate resources.

The project represents the institution’s commitment to securing its future as a world-class university by strategically investing in its operations and facilities, an imperative in the Elevate Extraordinary 2030 strategic roadmap.

“Investing in our infrastructure is how we continue to maintain our position as a leading research institution,” Roberts-Davis says.

To CEHD, this investment is not just about a building, but about nurturing generations of scholars through their lived experiences to unlock their full potential.

Construction on Eddy Hall begins this November. Learn more about the College of Education and Human Development.