The University of North Dakota (UND) Bookstore will relocate to the Fieldhouse at Memorial Village, aiming for a summer opening. This strategic move is designed to enhance accessibility for students, families, and visitors, placing the bookstore within the campus core and across from the parking ramp. According to Karla Mongeon-Stewart, UND’s Vice President for Finance and Operations, the current location has limited visibility and access, which has affected sales and raised questions during campus tours.
The bookstore’s current site, situated near the Ralph Engelstad Arena, has been described as somewhat isolated. Mongeon-Stewart emphasized the importance of relocating the bookstore to make it more convenient for the university community. She explained, “It’s a little bit out of the way, and it’s not as accessible for families and parents and students.” An increase in online purchases and rental options for class materials has also highlighted the need for a more appropriately-sized space.
The Fieldhouse will not only serve as the new bookstore location but will allow the existing bookstore building to be repurposed for the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Mongeon-Stewart noted that this transition will provide the department with “wide open spaces” necessary for effective teaching and learning.
The relocation process is set to take place in late May, with Follett, UND’s partner for bookstore services, tasked with transforming the new space into a fully operational store. The aim is to have the bookstore open by early summer, ensuring that students can access their materials before the new academic year begins.
This bookstore move is part of a broader strategy involving multiple relocations as departments prepare for the demolition of Columbia Hall. In a recent construction update, Brian Larson, Director of Construction Management, outlined plans for other departments to move. Twamely Hall is being renovated to provide a new office suite for Dean Brad Rundquist and his team from the College of Arts and Sciences, while Gamble Hall undergoes updates to accommodate new spaces for psychology and communication sciences.
The campus is also set to experience significant construction activity as the first phase of the new STEM Complex begins this spring, following the demolition of the Hyslop Sports Center in the fall. Larson warned of increased truck traffic and congestion in the area, particularly on Cornell Street and Second Avenue North. Construction activities are expected to last approximately two years, with the new building slated to open for classes in fall 2028.
In addition, UND will face challenges due to a planned underpass project at the intersection of 42nd Street and DeMers Avenue, managed by the city and the North Dakota Department of Transportation. Larson indicated that the project will close 42nd Street south of James Ray Drive for two years, disrupting traffic patterns but allowing some routes to remain open. This construction will also lead to the temporary closure of the Ray Richards Golf Course.
The relocation of the bookstore and the associated construction projects mark a significant transformation for the University of North Dakota, reflecting its commitment to enhancing the campus experience for all members of the community.
