Former facilities management director looks back on 15 years of campus improvement

For more than 15 years, Mike Ellingson’s fingerprints have been on nearly every building, renovation and expansion across the NDSU campus. From cutting-edge research facilities to welcoming student spaces, his work as director of facilities management helped transform NDSU while keeping students at the center of every project.

When Ellingson arrived at NDSU in 2010, he brought an engineer’s precision and a builder’s vision. Over his tenure, he oversaw a series of projects that reshaped how students learn, live and gather. His focus was on making the campus more functional, efficient and accessible.

“It’s been an honor to work for Mike,” said Brent DeKrey, the new director of facilities management. “He’s been a mentor, a leader and someone who always found effective solutions to complex problems. His influence on the people and projects at NDSU will be felt for many years to come.”

Ellingson’s approach combined practical planning with a deep understanding of the student experience. He often began projects by observing how students used spaces, where they studied, gathered and worked between classes, and looked for ways to make those experiences better. From adding corridor seating to improving bathroom accessibility, he and his team focused on small details that made a big difference.

Among his proudest accomplishments is the A. Glenn Hill Center, a building designed for all students regardless of major.

“There are no offices in AG Hill,” Ellingson said. “It’s built for students, with flexible classrooms, labs and study spaces open to everyone.” He noted that the building remains one of the only facilities of its kind in the region, serving as a model for student-centered design.

Ellingson also pointed to the Aldevron Tower, which expanded space for nursing, pharmacy, public health and allied sciences, and the new Richard Offerdahl ’65 Engineering Complex now under construction. As a proud NDSU engineering alumnus, he said that project is especially meaningful.

“Helping design new spaces for engineers is critical,” he said. “It brings all engineering disciplines together under one roof and connects campus north to south.”

His tenure included more than classroom buildings. The Sanford Health Athletic Complex, Shelly Ellig Indoor Track and Field Facility, Tharaldson Softball Park, Challey Hall addition, Aquatics addition, major residence hall upgrades and dining facilities each enhanced student life. The Bolley Agricultural Laboratory Building, now under construction, will soon provide state-of-the-art research space for NDSU’s agricultural scientists.

Many of these transformations were made possible through a combination of legislative funding and private philanthropy. Ellingson said partnerships with donors and state leaders made it possible to complete projects without significant tuition increases.

“Donors and supporters are vital to campus growth,” he said. “Without that private support, projects like Aldevron Tower, Challey Hall and the Richard Offerdahl ’65 Engineering Complex wouldn’t have been possible.”

Throughout his career, Ellingson championed fiscal responsibility. His team emphasized durable materials, sustainable systems and efficient design, all aimed at reducing long-term maintenance costs. He said even choices like polished concrete floors, LED lighting and energy-saving heating systems were part of a broader goal to maintain a high-quality campus while using taxpayer and student funds wisely.

For Ellingson, the most rewarding part of his work was seeing how each project improved daily life on campus.

“I’ll miss seeing the faces of students, staff and faculty when a project is completed and they see it for the first time,” he said. “The excitement and joy of the difference it makes is what I’ll remember.”

As he steps into retirement, Ellingson said he will miss the camaraderie of the facilities management team.

“That staff is top-notch,” he said. “They offer help before you ask, and they take pride in their work. I’ve been lucky to lead a group that treats the campus like their own home.”

In the end, his legacy is visible across NDSU, in the laboratories where students conduct research, the classrooms where they collaborate and the green spaces where they gather.

His work has shaped the physical foundation of the university, but his impact runs deeper, influencing every student who walks through the doors of the buildings he helped bring to life.