Architect questions NDSU president’s house design

FARGO (AP) — At least one area architect is questioning the design of the new president’s house being built on the North Dakota State University campus, saying it looks like a copy of the home of the architect who designed it.

That architect, Terry Stroh, said the two houses will be different, and he thinks the criticism arises from jealousy.

Phil Stahl said he and other architects have discussed how similar the plans for the president’s house look to Stroh’s south Fargo home. “The exterior is almost exactly the same,” he said.

Stahl said architects “struggle to make everything unique,” and he thinks it is embarrassing for the university that the president’s house is not original.

“It’s not unique. It’s not Division I,” Stahl said. “To me, it’s not indicative of NDSU.”

Stroh said there are similarities between the two homes, but the NDSU house will have different materials and a different interior.

“I wouldn’t say it’s the same as my house by any means,” he said.

University President Joseph Chapman said he does not care if the two houses look alike.

“There are similar-looking houses all over the community,” he said. “I think it’s a home that will meet the needs of our campus.”

Stroh said he is not surprised that another local architect would criticize him.

“I’ve gotten a lot of (criticism) for having too much work at NDSU,” he said.

Stroh is the architect for two downtown NDSU projects and the Bison Sports Arena remodeling. NDSU also hired Stroh for the Memorial Union renovation and an addition for Sudro Hall.

The goal is for the new NDSU president’s home to be completed next October.

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