Editor’s note: This story originally ran in the July 23, 1925, edition of The Brookings Register. Photos courtesy and information compiled by Tom Thaden, Brookings Historic Preservation Commission.

With the letting of contracts for the building of a new horse barn, for an addition to the stock judging pavilion, and for the construction of heating tunnels last Monday by the Board of Regents, State College is about to launch one of its biggest building programs it has experienced in its history. In addition to these building projects which are to start in the immediate future, the Board of Regents definitely decided that this institution was to be the recipient of the first educational building to be erected in the state under the cigarette fund law passed in the last session of the legislature; and a $200,000 library and class room is now certain to grace the campus within the next year.

Three Brookings contractors were successful bidders on the building projects and improvement that are to start immediately. The Mark-Wold Construction company will erect the addition to the stock judging pavilion at a cost of $27,940. The contract for the new horse barn was awarded to Kukuk Construction company on their bid of $11,184. The heating tunnels contract was awarded to C.M. Fassett on his bid of $14,512.

The addition to the stock judging pavilion is to be a brick structure 50x90, with the upper story joining the present stock pavilion to form one of the best student livestock judging pavilions in the country. The lower floor of the new addition is to be an abattoir or slaughter house where agricultural students will receive instruction and laboratory practice in the killing, dressing, curing, and canning of meat products. The original architect’s plans for the building had to be modified considerably and second bids called for in order to come within the appropriation granted by the legislature.

In conformity with the proposed long-time campus plan, the new horse barn will be constructed of red brick. It is designed by Engineering Professor Ralph L. Patty and will be a two-story structure 40x96, having 17 stalls, a gambrel roof, and can accommodate about 24 head of horses. It will have two feed rooms and two tack rooms as well as an office. Grain storage will be provided on both floors with a 50-ton capacity for hay.

Adequate heating tunnels have been a long felt need at State College and the construction of 1,450 feet of tunnel, taking care of the immediate needs of the college, is bound to effect a great saving in fuel and result in more satisfactory heating.