The progress on the University of Iowa's largest flood recovery project, Hancher, is evident when you drive along Park Road on the north end of the UI campus. Iowa Now provides you with intimate glimpses of the work done over the past few months.
Hancher is being built at a level 7 feet above the 500-year flood level. The project will include a large 1,900-seat, multi-purpose proscenium theater, front of house and back of house support spaces, rehearsal room, and administrative offices. School of Music program space—including the scene shop, costume shop, recording studio, and performing arts production offices—will also be included in the replacement building.
Updates as of April 2015, per UI Facilities Management:
- The project is approximately 65 percent complete
- All structural steel has been completed
- Stainless steel panels have commenced at the west wall of the scene shop
- Curtain wall installation is on-going and will be completing in May
- Sheetrock is ongoing throughout the building
- Acoustic ceiling grid has started in the lower level and will be complete in April
- Hollow metal door installation will be starting in the basement in May
- Polished concrete floors in the basement will be starting in May
- Roofing will be commencing in full force in May and continue through the summer
- Elevator 6 cab is being constructed and will be available for construction occupancy at the end of April; Elevators 4 and 5 will begin soon
Upcoming milestones:
- Auditorium scaffold removal: June 2015
- Installation of theater seating: fall 2015
- Building substantial completion: March 2016
- Final completion: spring 2016
- First performance: fall 2016
Stay informed by visiting the Hancher Auditorium Replacement page.
