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Description of Improvements

The subject property contains extensive building improvements that represent the former campus of the correctional facility.  The location of the campus is in the central area of total land area.  With the exception of an older lake cottage, there are no building improvements along the lake frontage.  The nearest building (chapel garage) within the campus grouping is in excess of five hundred feet from lake frontage.

The design of the campus, as previously discussed, represents the "cottage" theory of state institutional design.  The result is many smaller buildings as opposed to fewer larger buildings.  The cottages (residence halls) are generally situated along the perimeter of the campus design, with administrative/offices, classrooms, gymnasium and food service facilities in the center area of the campus.  Furthermore, the campus was originally designed to be self-sustaining, reliant on farming operations.  The associated farm buildings are situated in the southeast area of the campus.  All campus areas are connected by an asphalt surfaced street pattern, with small parking lots proximate to each building. 

Home School Campus Map

The subject property has a relatively tranquil, private setting with ample mature trees and a lake amenity.  There are a total of 25 buildings that comprise a gross building area of 176,219 square feet.  The largest of these buildings is Sinclair Lewis Hall (22,554 square feet of total building area); Mary Lyon School (20,594 total square feet); Morse Hall (11,300 square feet of total building area); followed by the multiple cottages (residence halls).  The smallest buildings are the various garages and storage buildings.

The majority of the buildings date back to the beginnings of the correctional facility operations, dating back to the period of 1911 through 1924.  Specifically, 16 of the 25 buildings were constructed in this time frame.  There were a few buildings constructed in the late 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, accounting for three buildings in total.  The most modern buildings are the Tekakwitha Cottage (was built in 1963); the bungalow garage (built in 1971); the storage garage (built in 1976); the Senator Popp Building (built in 1970); and the DuBois Cottage (built in 1970).