Replace Armstrong Hall for the Next Generation of Learners
A picture is worth a thousand words.
Armstrong Hall, serving over 4,000 students daily, is vital to our in-person instruction but currently faces serious health and safety risks. Without alternative spaces, its failure would disrupt learning. We urgently need the Minnesota Legislature to allocate $97 million in bonding to replace this essential facility.
Tell State Legislators to Support this Funding
Let your state representatives and senators know why funding the replacement of Armstrong Hall at Minnesota State Mankato matters. Lawmakers value hearing from their constituents—call or write to share your thoughts. [sample letters and phone messages are below]
To find your legislators, go to the Who Represents Me website and enter your zip code.
Armstrong Hall Fast Facts
Armstrong Hall, opened in 1964, is rapidly deteriorating.
In the past year alone:
- A three-foot section of a sewage pipe burst, releasing 500 gallons of raw waste into Psychology labs, tutoring areas, and student spaces, leading to the building’s four week (seven weeks on one floor) closure last summer.
- Hundreds of feet of identical aging pipe still in use pose a significant ongoing risk.
- Interior walls are beginning to crack, and some have bowed out by 5–6 inches.
- Door frames are becoming misaligned because of wall movement.
- The HVAC system is malfunctioning and getting worse.
- Deteriorating siding is coming loose and falling on the walkways below.
The replacement building’s innovative design reduces gross square footage by 25,000 square feet while still meeting campus needs.
It would cost more than $70 million to do asset preservation and code updates to Armstrong Hall and would only extend the life of the building by about 20 years. Bonding $97 million for a new building is a responsible use of state funds.
Minnesota State Mankato is not asking for help because it is struggling. It is asking for help because it is working, and the demand is growing.
- The Minnesota Star Tribune has recognized Minnesota State Mankato as Minnesota’s best college or university for five consecutive years.
- Among first-time, full-time students, Mankato is the second-choice campus state-wide, second only to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
- Enrollment remains stable, growing 3% this year.
- The University produces one-third of all baccalaureate degrees and 40% of all graduate degrees in the Minnesota State System.
- Students come from every Minnesota legislative district, all 50 states, and 100 countries.
Sample Messages
We’ve provided sample letters and phone messages to help you communicate this critical need to legislators. But don’t just use these templates. Add in your own stories about Armstrong Hall, your experience as a Maverick, and why you believe bonding for the replacement of Armstrong Hall needs to be a priority this session.
Dear [Representative/Senator] [Last Name],
My name is [Your Name], and I am a current student at Minnesota State University, Mankato. I am writing to share my experience as a student who attends classes in Armstrong Hall and to highlight how important safe, reliable learning spaces are to my education.
Armstrong Hall is one of the most heavily used academic buildings on campus, with thousands of students taking classes there every day. As a student who regularly learns in this building, I’ve experienced firsthand how its age and condition affect the learning environment. Issues such as outdated classrooms, mechanical problems, and recent facility disruptions have had a noticeable impact on students and instructors. [ADD YOUR PERSONAL STORY HERE]
Minnesota State University, Mankato plays a major role in supporting students like me. Many of us work in the community, complete internships locally, and plan to stay in Minnesota after graduation. Reliable classroom spaces are essential for us to continue making academic progress and preparing for our careers.
I appreciate the work you do on behalf of our district and the state, and I hope my perspective as a student is helpful as you consider decisions that affect higher education and campus learning environments. Please support Minnesota State Mankato’s bonding request for $97 million to replace Armstrong Hall with a safe, modern and engaging building that will support thousands of learners like me.
Thank you for your time and for your service to our state.
Sincerely,
[signature block]
Sample Phone Message
Hi, my name is [Name], and I’m a student at Minnesota State University, Mankato. I’m calling to share that Armstrong Hall is where many of my classes are held, and the building’s condition has caused real challenges for students. Safe, reliable learning spaces are essential for us to stay on track with our education, and I’m asking you to support Minnesota State Mankato’s bonding request for $97 million to replace Armstrong Hall with a safe, modern and engaging building that will support thousands of learners. Please make sure the student experience is part of the conversation as you make decisions affecting higher‑education facilities. Thank you for your time.
Dear [Representative/Senator] [Last Name],
My name is [Your Name], and I am a proud graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato. I’m writing to you as an alum whose career was shaped by the education and hands‑on learning experiences I received on campus to ask for your support for Minnesota State Mankato’s bonding request for $97 million to replace Armstrong Hall with a safe, modern and engaging building that will support thousands of future learners.
During my time at the University, Armstrong Hall was a core academic building supporting thousands of students every day. The classes, faculty support, and collaborative learning that took place there were central to my preparation for entering the workforce. Today, however, the building’s significant deterioration, ranging from outdated systems to recurring structural and mechanical issues, puts that same impactful work at risk. As someone now working in Minnesota’s workforce, I know how essential it is for students to have dependable, functional learning spaces that allow them to build the skills employers rely on.
Minnesota State Mankato continues to be a major contributor to the state’s workforce pipeline. Its graduates fill roles in business, healthcare, education, engineering, public service, and many other fields. Ensuring students have dependable learning environments strengthens that pipeline and supports the economic vitality of communities across Minnesota.
I appreciate the work you do for our state, and I hope my experience as both a former student and current member of the workforce helps illustrate how important strong campus facilities are to Minnesota’s long‑term talent development.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[signature block]
Sample Phone Message
“Hi, my name is [Name], and I’m an alum of Minnesota State University, Mankato. I wanted to share that Armstrong Hall was central to my education, but the building has deteriorated to a point where it’s now putting that same important learning at risk for today’s students. As someone working in Minnesota’s workforce, I know how much employers depend on graduates who have strong, hands‑on learning experiences. I’m asking you to support Minnesota State Mankato’s bonding request for $97 million to replace Armstrong Hall with a safe, modern and engaging building that will support thousands of learners. Thank you for your time.”
Dear [Representative/Senator] [Last Name],
My name is [Your Name], and I am a community member who cares deeply about the success of Minnesota State University, Mankato and the students who learn there. The University plays an essential role in the Greater Mankato region, Southern Minnesota and the entire state, not only as an educational institution, but also as a major contributor to the local workforce and economy.
Minnesota State Mankato students are employees, interns, volunteers, and future professionals who help strengthen our communities. Many graduates stay in the region after completing their degrees, and a large majority remain in Minnesota, continuing to support the state’s economic and workforce needs.
Armstrong Hall, built in 1964, is one of the most heavily used academic buildings on campus, hosting thousands of students and a significant portion of all classes each day. Over time, the building has experienced serious issues, including structural concerns, aging mechanical systems, and even facility interruptions such as a sewer pipe failure that forced a temporary closure. These conditions have increasingly affected students and instructors, and they jeopardize the essential teaching and learning that takes place there.
The University has worked to prioritize only its most critical instructional needs and has significantly reduced the scope of the project to be as responsible and efficient as possible. Maintaining functional, safe learning environments is vital not only for student success but also for the continued strength of our region’s workforce pipeline.
Minnesota State Mankato has long been recognized as a high‑performing, high‑demand institution that contributes greatly to the vitality of our communities. Ensuring that students have access to dependable academic spaces is an important part of supporting that ongoing success. Please support Minnesota State Mankato’s bonding request for $97 million to replace Armstrong Hall with a safe, modern and engaging building that will support thousands of future learners.
Thank you for your time and your service to our state. I appreciate your consideration of the needs of students and the broader community.
Sincerely,
[signature block]
Sample phone message
“Hi, my name is [Name], and I’m a community member who cares about Minnesota State University, Mankato. Armstrong Hall has been a major part of educating students in our region, but the building has deteriorated to a point where it’s affecting the important teaching and learning happening there. The University plays a big role in developing the workforce our communities rely on, and dependable classroom spaces are essential for that. I’m asking you to support Minnesota State Mankato’s bonding request for $97 million to replace Armstrong Hall with a safe, modern and engaging building that will support thousands of learners. Thank you for your time.”
Dear [Representative/Senator] [Last Name],
My name is [Your Name], and I am a faculty member at Minnesota State University, Mankato. I work directly with the students who learn on our campus, and I see every day how essential safe, reliable classroom spaces are to their success. The University plays an important role not only in the Greater Mankato region and Southern Minnesota, but also across the state, as a major contributor to Minnesota’s workforce, economy, and cultural vibrancy.
Armstrong Hall, built in 1964, is one of the most heavily used academic buildings on campus. It hosts thousands of students and a significant share of our classes every day. Over time, the building has developed serious issues, including structural concerns, aging mechanical systems, and disruptions such as a sewer pipe failure that resulted in a temporary shutdown. These problems are increasingly affecting both students and instructors, putting essential teaching, learning, and academic continuity at risk.
If the building fails, 30% of our classes, specifically critical first- and second-year classes, will be forced to go online. As we learned in the pandemic, students do not thrive when they do not have critical in-person instruction, and many students made the difficult decision not to continue their education. We can’t afford to let that happen again.
Minnesota State Mankato is a high‑performing institution with strong demand, and it contributes significantly to the vitality of our communities. Maintaining functional academic spaces is a critical part of sustaining that contribution. I urge you to support Minnesota State Mankato’s bonding request for $97 million to replace Armstrong Hall with a safe, modern and engaging building that will support thousands of future learners.
Thank you for your time and for your service to our state. I appreciate your consideration of the needs of our students, faculty, and the broader community.
Sincerely,
[signature block]
Sample Phone Message
Hi, my name is [Name], and I’m a faculty member at Minnesota State University, Mankato. I work directly with students every day, and I see how much they depend on safe, reliable classroom spaces to succeed. Armstrong Hall is one of our most heavily used buildings, but its condition has declined significantly—there have been structural issues, failing systems, and even a shutdown caused by a sewer failure. These problems increasingly disrupt teaching and learning. If the building were to fail, 30% of our classes—mainly for first‑ and second‑year students—would have to move online, and we know from the pandemic that many students struggle without in‑person instruction. I urge you to support Minnesota State Mankato’s bonding request for $97 million to replace Armstrong Hall with a safe, modern and engaging building that will support thousands of future learners. Thank you.”
Dear [Representative/Senator] [Last Name]:
I am writing on behalf of [Organization Name] to express our strong support for the replacement of Armstrong Hall at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and to urge your support for $97 million in state bonding for this critical project.
Minnesota State Mankato is a key part of the Greater Mankato and Southern Minnesota economies. Its students are not only learners but also employees, customers, interns, and future professionals who boost our region’s vitality. Nearly 20 percent of graduates stay in the Greater Mankato area, and 85 percent remain in Minnesota, helping strengthen workforces and communities across the state.
Armstrong Hall, built in 1964, houses about 40 percent of all Minnesota State Mankato classes and serves over 4,000 students daily. The building’s condition has worsened significantly, including structural wall movement, failing mechanical systems, and a recent sewer pipe failure that flooded parts of the building, leading to its closure for four weeks last summer. There is no alternative facility capable of accommodating this instructional capacity if the building were to close.
In response to legislative concerns about costs, the University has responsibly scaled the project down from $121 million to $97 million, focusing only on essential instructional needs. While this smaller scope requires some operational compromises, it is the minimum investment needed to maintain in-person learning and prevent disruption to the regional economy and workforce pipeline.
Minnesota State University, Mankato is a high-performing institution with strong demand. It has been recognized by the Minnesota Star Tribune as the best college or university in Minnesota for five consecutive years, and among first-time, full-time students, it is the second-choice campus statewide, behind only the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
From a business and workforce perspective, allowing this facility to fail would have real consequences for employers, employees, and communities throughout Minnesota. Supporting this project is a prudent investment in economic stability, talent development, and regional vitality.
We respectfully urge you to support the Armstrong Hall replacement project during the upcoming bonding session.
Thank you for your leadership and consideration.
Sincerely,
[signature block]
Sample Phone Message
“Hi, my name is [Name], and I’m calling on behalf of [Organization Name]. Armstrong Hall at Minnesota State University, Mankato is one of the most used buildings on campus, serving over 4,000 students a day, but it has serious structural and mechanical issues that have already caused major disruptions. Because the University plays such a big role in our region’s workforce and economy, maintaining safe, functional learning spaces is essential for students and for employers who rely on them. I urge you to support Minnesota State Mankato’s bonding request for $97 million to replace Armstrong Hall with a safe, modern and engaging building that will support thousands of future learners. Thank you.”