SDSU Architecture Project

Mural Installed!

Summer 2020 Update

Day County Arts Council is partnering with local Bristol artist Kartin Bartell to paint a mural on the east side of the concrete beam, located between the new track/football complex and golf course in Webster. It was officially installed on July 18!

Learn more about the history and photos of the SDSU Beam below.


SDSU Architecture Partnership

Webster Area Development Corporation and South Dakota State University started a new partnership in July 2013 with SDSU Department of Architecture (DoArch), after connecting with SDSU representatives during an ice cream social held in May 2013 at the Day County Courthouse.

Watch our "SDSU DoArch in Webster" Video > 

View our photo album of SDSU visits >

What's next?
Design-build project on West 10th Avenue in Webster.

In our third year of partnership with SDSU DoArch, WADC, City of Webster and a group of community members helped identify potential sites for a “design‐build” project. An underutilized piece of land was selected for its focal location between the new track/football complex, golf course and basketball court. Faculty and students finalized a design in the fall of a 60 ft. concrete beam featuring an exhibit/display area, seating and flower bed. Community input was sought during the preliminary design in the summer, and students also cleaned up the Works Project Administration (WPA) concrete pad located on the site. The beam will add a bit of culture, and could become an ideal place for picnics, theatre or concert performances, displays and other family or community gatherings. The beam is set to be installed in May 2016.

Nearly all of the project is covered by a grant and SDSU DoArch. City of Webster leveraged $5,000 to entice Precast Concrete Institute and SDSU Architecture to invest $34,000 in the Webster community through this project. Webster's funds have paid for soil testing and the footing designs.

June 2015 

Mayor Mike Grosek, Don Weigel of Clark Engineering, and
SDSU Instructor Federico Garcia-Lammars discussing the City Park as a possible site.

Grad Student Ethan surveying the WPA Site.

July 2015

Presentation of three design concepts by
SDSU students and faculty to the Webster community.
Several maps and images were provided.
Discussion followed


September 2015


SDSU students and faculty visited to create a life-size mock-up

Discussing height.
SDSU students also cleaned up debris and garbage on the WPA site.

More measurements!

August 2015

Federico and Ethan present to the community during the Day County Fair.


October 2015

Additional design work was completed.

A model was created.

November 2015

Webster folks attended Review Day at SDSU featuring the work students had done in Webster.
Photo courtesy of Federico Garcia-Lammers.

Students made several forms of bricks.
Photo courtesy of Federico Garcia-Lammers.


Students created a life-size model of a portion of the beam.
Photo courtesy of Federico Garcia-Lammers.

January 2016

SDSU students and faculty showcased the project at the
Day County Farm, Home & Sport Show.

They answered questions and discussed ideas and concerns.






April 2016

Soil tests were completed.

September 2016

The site was prepared by Northeast Excavation, ProLumber Construction and GCC ReadyMix.
ProLumber Construction set the forms and poured the concrete forms.



GCC ReadyMix brought the concrete.


October 2016

B&B Contracting set the beam.

SDSU students and faculty accompanied the beam on its trek north from Gage Brothers in Sioux Falls.
Shadows on the beam


July 2017

Students fabricated the benches. The steel was cast at Dakota Foundry in Webster.




Darlene Dulitz tests acrylic paint on the top of the beam to see how weather impacts it.

Summer 2016 Update

Thanks to Northeast Excavation (Jim Stern), Pro Lumber (Derek Shafer), and City of Webster for helping with the dirt work, concrete footings, and tree trimming!

The beam was placed on the footings on Oct. 21 by B&B Contracting out of Aberdeen. Ten SDSU Architecture students and three professors attended, taking pictures and video along the way!

Final touches are yet to be finished. SDSU will be screwing in some benches, and also steel rods cast by Dakota Foundry and later galvanized. View photos. Grass will also be returned to the site. A grand opening event will be held this summer/fall.

Fall 2017 Update

Thanks to SDSU DoArch students and faculty, the benches were installed in July! Plans for landscaping and potential art mural to come!

Spring 2019 Update

A mural has always been in the back of the minds of team members who worked with SDSU Architecture students and faculty to bring a space back to life between the new track/football complex and golf course on West 10th Avenue in Webster. This beam is a finale of sorts for a partnership that began with the university in 2013.


View SDSU DoArch's blog >

More information

Contact Melissa at (605) 345-3159 or email.