DOWNTOWN NDSU: Renaissance Hall

Main Entrance at Renaissance Hall, NDSU

Downtown NDSU has many admirable attractions for students to enjoy learning along with getting to explore the areas as well with restaurants, clothing stores, antique shops, etc. On this weeks blog we are looking into Renaissance Hall which resides the classrooms of many architecture majors including first years through fifth years. Being a second year myself has lead me to believe that Renaissance Hall is my home away from home. When you walk through the doors you are welcomed with an open area to relax, do homework, attend class, and even enjoy the company of other students throughout the day as the Hall is open 24/7.

To where it began, Renaissance hall once resided the company of a farm implement house and dealership until the year of 2001 when it was provided to NDSU and turned into a visual arts department. Coincidentally, this year marks the 20th anniversary and is now serving many purposes for multiple studios including; digital design, ceramics, painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography studio and darkroom, along with woodshop, and LA-A-VA (landscape architecture, architecture, visual arts) lab. Renaissance Hall 5th floor also offers a gallery which presents the amazing work of students. According to NDSU's architecture page, "The Fifth floor of Renaissance Hall is designed as a space for large presentations as well as a gallery for studio sections to display their projects, such as the capstone high rise project and the 5th year thesis project" (Fifth Floor Gallery | Architecture | NDSU).

5th Floor gallery capstone high rise project, Renaissance Hall, NDSU

This week, on September 1st, NDSU second year architecture and landscape architecture students are visiting River Oaks Conservation Park located in Moorhead, MN. River Oaks Conservation Park opened up in 2018 and, "restores grassland and woodland areas in Fargo and Moorhead. Currently there is nearly 1,000 acres along the Red River enrolled within the project that were idle flood buyout sites overrun with non-native grasses and trees" (Fargo-Moorhead Convention and Visitors Bureau, River Oaks Conservation Area | Visit Fargo-Moorhead (fargomoorhead.org)). Not only does it serve as a conservation area but also conveniently serves as a dog park as well. Red River Oaks Conservation Park is proud to give you a break from the busy city to enjoy a nice and peaceful morning/afternoon.