Demolition work on the Hyslop Sports Center at the University of North Dakota began on August 5, following asbestos abatement earlier in the spring. The removal of the structure marks the end of a significant era for UND, as the building had been central to campus life since its construction in 1951.
Cierra Roebuck Hangsleben, a former UND athlete and athletic operations staff member, spoke at an “Honoring Hyslop: UND Fan Luncheon” held in November 2024. At that event, she said, “There are many people who helped shape the Hyslop, and in the end, the Hyslop shaped us into the people we are today.”
Originally called simply the Fieldhouse when it opened during a postwar enrollment surge, it was then North Dakota’s second-largest building. Over several decades, it served as home to various university sports including basketball, volleyball, track and field, and swimming. Beyond athletics, it hosted youth swim lessons and annual Indigenous powwows. The center also welcomed several United States presidents—John F. Kennedy (who received an honorary degree), Richard Nixon, and Ronald Reagan—during their visits.
The facility was renamed in 1981 to honor W. Kenneth Hyslop—a former basketball player and benefactor—and continued to be a venue for major campus events such as commencements and concerts by acts like John Mellencamp and Metallica.
As demolition proceeds, plans are underway for a new STEM Complex to rise on the site later this fall. The new 179,000-square-foot facility is designed for interdisciplinary learning with spaces dedicated to Mechanical Engineering,Civil Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering and Physics departments. It will include lecture halls; collaborative research areas; a robotics team workspace; and an eSports arena.
Two skyways will connect the future complex with Abbott Hall and Leonard Hall to facilitate safe passage during winter months common in North Dakota.
If construction progresses according to schedule, university officials expect students and staff will move into the STEM Complex by summer 2027 ahead of that year’s fall semester.
