Continental Structural Plastics history

Originally founded as Concordia High School, the first class takes up residence in temporary quarters on Agate St (near the current State Capitol) on September 13, 1893.

In 1912 in Meadi, Egypt, parabolic solar collectors were established in a small farming community by Frank Schuman, a Philadelphia inventor, solar visionary and business entrepreneur.

Concordia earns accreditation as a two-year college in 1921.

Concordia celebrates its 50 year anniversary in 1943 and makes plans for a bright future.

The Lutheran Memorial Center is under construction in 1950

With the need for more library space than the rooms in the basement of Luther Hall allowed, the Buenger Memorial Library (1951) is built and dedicated in memory of Concordia’s first president.

The Lutheran Memorial Center (1953), a gymnasium/auditorium and memorial to the service and sacrifice of war veterans, is built.

Concordia expands its curriculum in 1962 to include a four-year college degree and awards its first Bachelor of Arts degrees two years later.

By 1967, Concordia earns accreditation for its four-year liberal arts program and joins the Minnesota Private College Council.

The first operational concentrated solar power plant was built in Sant'llario, Italy in 1968 by Professor Giovanni Francia.

In 1982 the United States Department of Energy, along with an industry consortium began operating Solar One, a 10MW central-receiver demonstration project.

Four years later, in 1986, the world's largest solar thermal facility, located in Kramer Junction, California, was commissioned.

Enrollment tops 1,000 students for the first time in 1987.

Concordia adopts its current mission statement in 1992.

In 1996 the United States Department of Energy, along with an industry consortium, began operating Solar Two - an upgrade of its Solar One concentrating solar power tower project.

The student population tops the 2,000 mark in 2003 as Concordia adds new programs and grows in the adult undergraduate and graduate spaces.

In 2004, Concordia becomes the home to the world’s first Center for Hmong Studies.

As of June 2010, there were 34 CSP plants installed worldwide, totaling 880.45MW. The country with most plants is the USA with 16 plants installed.

Also in 2014, Concordia launches its first doctoral program, the doctorate of physical therapy (DPT) Program, which is first housed in the former Moenkemoeller Hall, which is renamed Thompson Hall after the benefactors who helped fund the renovation and refurbishment.

©Aalborg CSP 2015 All rights reserved Privacy PolicyCookie declaration

In 2018, enrollment reaches the 5,000 student mark for the first time as Concordia adds new programs and remains one of the most affordable private universities in Minnesota.