Haecker Hall, the building that houses the animal science department on the St. Paul campus, will be dedicated today with speeches by former Gov. Arne Carlson and others.
The building has undergone a three-year, $8 million renovation, which gutted the interior of the building while leaving the exterior intact.
The preservation of the exterior earned the building an award from the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota, which recognizes preservation of a variety of public and private buildings. It is the first University building to be awarded by the organization.
“Haecker Hall represents the commitment of the citizens of Minnesota to agriculture, and it also represents a clear example of President Mark Yudof’s vision of ‘preserving the past and nurturing the future,'” said Department of Animal Science Head F. Abel Ponce de Leon.
The renovated building includes a new multimedia room, as well as new labs and lab equipment. Ponce de Leon said it is important to invest in emerging technologies to train agriculturists.
The open house will take place in Room 250 of Haecker Hall from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. with the ceremonies beginning at 2 p.m. Three rooms will also be dedicated in namesake of Richard D. Goodrich, Robert N. Shoffner and Robert W. Touchberry.
Speaking at the ceremony will be Carlson, who was governor when the building was approved for funding; Phil Larsen, interim dean for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences; Ponce de Leon; the architects who designed the renovations; and members of the president’s office.

— John Adams