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The Gage Residence Community has been a fixture on the Minnesota State University - Mankato campus for nearly half a century, but on Saturday, it will 

The two, 12-story towers will be demolished at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, following a speech from university president Richard Davenport.

“Thousands of our alums have wonderful memories of living in the towers," Davenport said in a statement. "Imploding the towers is part of our campus master plan, as we look toward the future with ‘big ideas’ and ‘real-world thinking’."

The university will host a number of "demolition parties" leading up to the big event, as well as stream the demolition live on 

, which contains videos like this scrapbook:

University officials say following the demolition, the site will be redeveloped as parking. Two new building at MSU-Mankato replaced the Gage community for on-campus student housing.

Over the years, officials estimate the towers housed more than 50,000 students since opening their doors for the 1965-66 school year. At the time, room and board for one academic year was $630; By it's final year, 2011-2012, that cost had jumped to $6,555. The complex closed in August 2012 after the Minnesota Vikings training camp.

Elizabeth Baier

Author

UPDATE: Watch the Gage Towers implosion over at On Campus. The Gage Residence Community has been a fixture on the Minnesota State University – Mankato campus for nearly half a century, but on Saturday, it will come crumbling down in just a few seconds. The two, 12-story towers will be demolished at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, following…

High-rise dorms at MSU-Mankato to be imploded

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