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Historic Building Profiles

Brown Hall (1960)

Brown Hall was at the start of tremendous physical growth of St. Cloud State classrooms that began in the late 1950s. Before Brown Hall opened in January 1960, Stewart Hall was the only classroom and office building on campus. After Brown Hall was completed, many other buildings followed.

A multi‑story modern building seen from above, with leafless trees and a snow‑covered courtyard in front.

Brown Hall, 1959

Funding and Purpose

With $1.4 million appropriation from the 1957 state legislature, construction began in September 1958. It marked the start of the westward expansion of campus. The Science and Mathematics building (it would be renamed in 1962 to Brown Hall) was set to be three stories and occupy a half-block between 1st and 2nd Avenue South. A small greenhouse was to be attached to the building along with a bell shaped 250-person auditorium on the north side.

The building became home for the departments of Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Mathematics, as well as hosted sections for botany and geology. Inside were 29 laboratories and classrooms, nine research rooms, and 29 offices. The building also included an aviation workshop and a ramp entrance for handicapped students. Science equipment from Stewart Hall was moved here, including an additional $75,000 to purchase more.

When the building opened in January 1960, it contained 78,965 square feet of space, about two-thirds the size of Stewart Hall. Brown Hall relieved student traffic by at least one-fourth from Stewart Hall.

The building was designed by Traynor and Hermanson. The general contractor was Gunner Johnson and Son.

Dedication and Naming

On October 26, 1958, the Science and Mathematics building was dedicated, despite construction just starting. The building officially opened in January 1960.

In August 1962, the Minnesota State College Board renamed the building the "J.C. Brown Science and Mathematics Building." J.C. Brown was St. Cloud State's ninth president, serving from 1916 to 1927. It was the second space named after President Brown - the first was the J.C. Brown Athletic Field which stood just west of Shoemaker Hall.

Renovation

The 2008 Minnesota state legislature appropriated $15 million to renovate Brown Hall to become the home of the Nursing program. The renovation was completed in 2010.

The blueprints for Brown Hall, as completed in 1960, are available on the University Archives’ search portal.

Model, 1955-1959 

Multi-story building under construction along a city street, with scaffolding, construction materials, utility poles, and parked cars visible.

Construction, March 1959

Brown Hall, May 1981

Joseph Brown, 1916-1923

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