The Brandenburg Building was the original administration building for the Nebraska State Normal School. It was built in 1914 on the site of the original college building from which J. M. Pile directed his school from 1892 to 1909. It was remodeled and named the Brandenburg Education Building in honor of William A. Brandenburg, president of Wayne State College from 1956 to 1973. The building was home to WSC's education and counseling programs for many years before these programs were relocated to Benthack Hall after its renovation was completed in 2021. The building also served as a temporary home for the Music Department until the renovation of Peterson Fine Arts Building was completed in 2023. Brandenburg is also home to Ley Theatre, a 210-seat venue for musical and theatrical productions and large group meetings.
Future plans for Brandenburg
The Brandenburg Building will be repurposed into the campus student services center. Repurposing and reprogramming the facility will move administrative functions to the building including:
- Admissions
- Career Services
- Disability Services
- Financial Aid
- Records and Registration
- Student Accounts
- TRIO Student Services
The proposed project will revitalize this 107-year-old facility, meeting the needs of today’s students by offering a single location for them to find various student services offered by Wayne State. This consolidation will allow for greater efficiency by departmental staff and ease of navigation for students and visitors, improving their overall experience on campus.
A repurposing and modification of Ley Theater will also occur to allow it to continue to serve various functions on campus. As part of the renovation, windows will be replaced, new entrances added, and site improvements made to present a proper welcome to students mechanical/electrical/plumbing (MEP) upgrades are needed to bring the building up to modern-day standards and provide greatly improved functionality.
