FARGO (AP) - North Dakota State University could have 4,000 students downtown by the fall of 2008.

NDSU President Joseph Chapman announced renovation plans this week for two downtown buildings acquired by the NDSU Development Foundation.

The Pioneer Mutual Life building will be expanded to twice its size and house the College of Business and the Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics.

Besides remodeling the six-story Pioneer building, NDSU will add an education wing with classrooms and offices, an atrium area and a two-story auditorium.

The project is estimated to cost about $14 million, said Jim Miller, executive director of the Development Foundation.

The two-story Lincoln building will be remodeled to house studio space for architecture and landscape architecture students. That project is estimated to cost about $2 million, Miller said.

Plans also include green space and walkways between the buildings.

"This is absolutely going to be another jewel in our crown to bring downtown back to Fargo," said Mayor Dennis Walaker.

NDSU senior Adam Riesen said he would prefer to see the Agribusiness and Applied Economics Department stay on the main campus. Catching professors during office hours and getting to class on time could become a hassle, said Riesen, an ag systems management major.

NDSU is working to get more bus transportation to and from the downtown campus.

Downtown classes are scheduled on the half-hour, while classes on the main campus start on the hour, to accommodate extra travel time for students.