For nearly 70 years, the former State Office Building that has served as a location for various state departments throughout the years is now facing demolition in the next few months.
BISMARCK, ND (KXNET) — For nearly 70 years, the former State Office Building that has served as a location for various state departments throughout the years is now facing demolition in the next few months.
The North Dakota State Legislature Budget Section had a discussion over the building’s fate on Wednesday, June 19 before holding a roll call vote to approve tearing down the building.
The building is located on the southeast corner of the state capitol grounds at 900 East Boulevard Avenue in Bismarck, and it was originally constructed to serve as Bismarck Junior College in 1955.
It has experienced many infrastructure issues over the past several years. The building was renovated in 1991 to help resolve water damage in the basement and walls.
Many state agencies have moved out of the building due to the return of water and mold issues, including the North Dakota Department of Water Resources (DWR), which were the last occupants of the building. DWR moved out of the State Office Building in 2022.
During an inspection, North Dakota’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) found more mold around the windows and throughout the walls of the building.
“The Budget Section approved OMB to demolish and remove the State Office Building, fill-in the hole, grade it, kind of reseed it and we’ll probably remake it into a park for now,” explained John Boyle, Facility Management Director for OMB. “But, we want to make sure that the compaction ratios and things are where they need to be if we ever did go back and build a building back in that location.”
Boyle adds that since the Legislature approved the removal of the building, OMB will now move ahead and start advertising for contractors to bid on the demolition project. He says they would like to have the building removed by the end of October.