photo by Gene Parker

There are three landmarks at Michigan State Unversity everyone knows.  Sparty, Spartan Stadium and the MSC smokestack. Michigan State University Officials will soon make a decision on the fate of the  230-foot-high smokestack  with the letters MSC on it. When the structure was built in 1948 the school was called Michigan State College.  The stack has not been in operation since 1975.  Recent inspections  near the top of the tower found all of the mortar holding the brick together had deteriorated.

Within 70 feet of the top, nearly half of the joints are damaged.  A wire cage is being used to keep the brick in place and a fence now surrounds the structure.  U Officials are looking at three options including dismantling the tower, making it structurally sound and taking it down but saving the bricks with the white MSC letterings.  Your input is welcome.

Because of its deteriorating condition, MSU officials are in agreement that a decision must be made soon regarding the smokestack’s future. Currently there are three options:

  • The smokestack is dismantled. Cost: Approximately $800,000
  • The smokestack is repaired and made structurally sound. Cost: Approximately $1.4 million, plus approximately $10,000 a year to maintain (costs that will increase over time). Even repaired, it would not be functional and would not contribute to the mission of the university.
  • The smokestack is dismantled, but the white bricks containing the letters “MSC” are salvaged. About 100 bricks make up the “MSC.” The letters are approximately 6’ 3” tall and 5’ 3” wide. The bricks themselves are 5” high, 7” wide and 4” deep. Each weighs about six pounds. The demolition contractor with whom MSU has been working estimates that approximately 50 percent of the white bricks can be salvaged. Cost: Approximately $850,000.
  • Under its current economic conditions, MSU is in a position to fund either the first or the third option, but not the second. Additional funds from an outside source or sources would be needed in order to make repair of the smokestack an option.The public is invited to share their input on what should be done with the smokestack. Public commentary ends March 1. Shortly after that a summary of what was received will be posted and a final decision will be made.

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