University of Minnesota demolishes Wesbrook Hall

Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Wesbrook Hall is now little more than a pile of bricks.
This week two excavators tore down the building that stood in the heart of the U of M's campus for more than a century.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
The demolition is part of the U's effort to get rid of several aging buildings it considers obsolete.
The loss of this building is a blow to preservationists, who thought it should be renovated and reused.
U of M officials said Wesbrook would cost too much to renovate. And they claim it crowds nearby Northrop Auditorium, which is currently undergoing an $80 million renovation.
Expect more scenes like this at the U of M. There are several buildings slated for demolition on the U's Minneapolis and St. Paul campus in the coming weeks and months.
(Update: Click here for some more photos from the Facebook page of the College of Liberal Arts. Thanks to KellyO for the tip. And below is a video on Westbrook memories, submitted by Greg.)
MPR Photo/Tim Post
Wesbrook Hall before ... and after