Workers install flood control wall at Iowa Advanced Technology Laboratories

Workers on the University of Iowa campus are installing a 1,500-foot removable flood wall to encircle the Iowa Advanced Technology Laboratories (IATL) site this week.

The “invisible” flood wall is a series of panels that can be quickly constructed to keep out floodwater and then taken down and stored when not in use. The IATL flood wall is the second and longest flood wall built on the UI campus following the 2008 flood; the UI’s first flood wall was constructed at Art Building West in 2010.

The flood wall will protect to an elevation two feet above the 500-year flood plain level.

A flood wall partially-constructed between the river and the IATL building.

The flood wall is part of a larger flood mitigation and permanent recovery project to protect the Frank Geary-designed, copper- and stainless steel-clad building from future flooding.

Additional flood recovery and mitigation work at the building includes the replacement of damaged copper panels; installation of a site dewatering system consisting of nine dewatering wells, two pump stations and associated utilities; relocation of existing utilities and the installation of emergency back-up power for dewatering pumps.

The total cost of the flood mitigation and permanent recovery work at IATL is about $9.7 million and is expected to be complete in spring 2015. The building has historical and signature status, and as such, the original design of the facility is being preserved. All work is being done in coordination with FEMA.

The building has remained open throughout all phases of the recovery work.