Montana Tech’s Main Hall, constructed in 1897, and the adjacent Engineering Hall, constructed in 1910, are two of the oldest and most recognizable buildings on the Butte campus. Both have served as core academic classroom facilities for well over a century, with only minor renovations along the way, and Main Hall is listed on the Montana National Register of Historical Landmarks, once considered “the most substantial and solidly built public structure in the state.” As part of this project, the two historic buildings are being modernized and joined into a single connected facility by a new glazed entry connector that ties the structures together, provides accessible and code-compliant circulation between them, and preserves the historic character of each building.
The scope includes complete demolition and reconstruction of all mechanical, plumbing, electrical, low-voltage, and fire protection systems throughout the combined four-story facility, along with renovated classrooms, faculty offices, support spaces, restrooms, and circulation corridors. New mechanical systems use active chilled beams to provide a high level of localized heating and cooling control, paired with a ducted Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS) that distributes conditioned ventilation throughout the building for a comfortable, energy-efficient result. Plumbing systems incorporate low-flow fixtures with automatic sensor-operated valves; electrical systems include energy-efficient LED lighting with occupancy-sensor controls throughout; and modern low-voltage infrastructure provides both hardwired data connections and strategically located Wi-Fi access points to support current and future instructional technology. Wet-pipe fire sprinkler systems protect all occupied areas, improving life safety and code compliance.
Because the buildings remain part of an active campus, construction is carefully phased to keep the existing steam, domestic water, and communication mains running through the basement in service, maintaining uninterrupted utilities to the adjacent campus buildings throughout the course of the renovation.
