History of the 'MSC' Smokestack

The 'MSC' smokestack in the process of being dismantled.

photo by: Phil Pianelli

The once 230-foot-high smokestack was built in 1948 and was part of the old Shaw Lane power plant located at the corner of North Shaw Lane and Red Cedar Road on Michigan State University’s campus.

It powered many of the building on MSU’s southern part of campus until the T.B. Simon Power Plant, which became the university’s main energy supplier, in 1975.

Here are some videos detailing T.B. Simon plant and how MSU currently generates power.

With the old Shaw Lane power plant ceasing all power generating activities, the smokestack shut down. However, the power plant building acted as an electricity distribution station until 1995.

The university has been aware that the smokestack has been falling apart for the past 30 years, and put a wire cage around the top 35-feet of the stack, as well as a metal fence around it on the ground to keep passersby safe, according to this MSU press release.

In December 2009 an inspection by an outside consultant to the university revealed that the deteriorating stack would either have to be repaired or demolished.

MSU then came up with three options they would take into consideration, and asked for the local community’s input.

In March 2011 the university announced that it would dismantle that smokestack while salvaging some of the white bricks that spelled MSC on the stack.

University engineer Bob Nestle, who oversees all construction that takes place on campus, said the smokestack should be dismantled by mid-August.