Petroleum Building (PET)

Completed in 1954, the Petroleum Building provided space for the Petroleum Engineering, Physics, and Applied Mechanics departments. The building was originally designed to accommodate three stories; however, the $5 million bond was only enough to cover the cost of a basement and two stories. A plan to add the third story later was created, but funding for the additional floor never materialized.

This building now houses classrooms, offices, storage rooms, a computer lab, a multimedia lecture hall, and offices for the Petroleum Engineering Department faculty. A unique feature of this building was the “open well” which extends from the basement to the ceiling of the top floor. The well was built to allow petroleum students to study fluid flow under actual oil well conditions. This feature was removed during later renovations to allow for more classroom space.

This building also provides a home for the Technical Outreach department.  Technical Outreach provides services to enhance the science education of K-12 students across Montana.  Technical Outreach also provides services for student generally underrepresented in science education including women, first generation college students, Native Americans, and others.

In 2007, ground was broken west of campus for a Natural Resources building.  Once this building is complete the Petroleum Department will move its offices, labs, and computer lab into this new space and the Petroleum Building will be retrofitted into an Applied Health Science building.  The retrofit will prepare the building for Nursing faculty and students.