The first North Dakota DU chapter house was located at 515 Oxford Street, which was an existing 4-unit building and was purchased in 1961. After receiving a loan from DU International, the 4plex was converted into a chapter house and served the chapter for 13 years. The original chapter house could accommodate 32 men, but with a membership approaching 70 and the desire to keep close contact, a larger facility was needed.
In 1974, 505 Princeton Street was constructed for a cost of $275,000 and was paid for with federal funds and built with residential construction. The construction of the new chapter house was the result of a project initially proposed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the mid-1960’s to build housing for fraternities and sororities on campus. It was predetermined that the house would accommodate 41 occupants and groundbreaking occurred in 1973 and move in was in 1974.
Our home at 505 Princeton Street has been part of North Dakota Chapter’s legacy for over 47 years. However, since the house was built with residential material, not commercial-grade materials, it has not held up to the daily wear and tear of college students making it their home over those years. It has experienced a myriad of issues (shifting foundation, sunken stairs, broken radiators), and a change must be made.
Delta Upsilon alumni leadership is looking toward the future of the North Dakota Chapter and 505 Princeton Street. The new chapter house at 421 Princeton Street will increase our curb frontage to 160 feet, is not in a food plain, and will allow us to build a state-of-the-art 100-year facility. To learn more about the project, click here.