Editor's note: The Iowa Board of Regents approved these projects at its June meeting.
At its June meeting, the Iowa Board of Regents will consider the University of Iowa’s request for final approval of three facilities projects.
Expansion of Iowa Advanced Technology Laboratory
The University of Iowa plans to remodel and expand the Iowa Advanced Technology Laboratories (IATL)—one of its most unique buildings—to create a permanent home for a fast-growing program of study.
The IATL building was built in 1992 to support research programs requiring laser and major equipment resources. To date, the demand for this type of research has lessened, providing opportunities to repurpose space that is not well utilized
Although much of the research space is active, much of the previously needed support space is not necessary. The intent is to renovate the lower floors of the west wing to provide much-needed space for the Department of Computer Science. The renovation will provide about 50% of the space needed for the department.
The balance will be provided by adding a new wing adjacent to the renovated west wing. The new wing was part of the original building design by noted architect Frank Gehry, but was never completed due to budget constraints.
Once the estimated $28 million project is complete, computer science will move into the building.
The Department of Computer Science includes several undergraduate majors that have seen significant growth over the past two decades. The department is now home to about 900 undergraduate students, an increase of more than 300% since 2006.
The department’s longtime home has been McLean Hall, which opened in 1912 and is outdated and poorly configured for the needs of a modern computer science program.
Work on the project would begin in the fall.
Renovate, expand Cambus Maintenance Facility
With the help of a federal grant, the UI is seeking approval to expand and renovate the Cambus Maintenance Facility, located at 517 S. Madison St. The project will build dedicated maintenance bays and Fleet Services offices and renovate the existing facility to accommodate Cambus offices, dispatch, training and meeting spaces.
The current Cambus Maintenance Facility does not meet present or future needs for storage, maintenance, and operations. In addition to many safety improvements, the larger facility will enable Cambus to consolidate all operations into one building to improve efficiency, enable better coordination, increase storage, and reduce costs.
Cambus, the UI’s free public transit, provides more than 2.6 million rides annually to students, faculty, staff, visitors, health care patients, and the public.
Work on the $23 million project would begin in the fall.
Phase 2 of Duane Banks Baseball Stadium renovations
The second phase of a donor-funded project to improve the game-day experience at the Duane Banks Baseball Stadium would involve reconstructing the press box, adding new seating, and other improvements, including an ADA-compliant restroom and ramp to connect the new clubhouse and the first base line grandstand.
A new seating bowl will be added between the two main fan entrances and a new aluminum bleacher system will be constructed in the main grandstand seating area with a new press box positioned atop the seating bowl. A new cable-tension ball netting system spanning the entire distance of the existing and new grandstands will be installed.
The planned renovations will elevate the overall experiences for players, coaches, spectators, and media.
The $5.8 million project will be funded by gifts to the Department of Athletics. If approved, construction would begin in summer 2026.
Permission to raze a building, parking ramp, and water tower
Also at the June meeting, the UI is seeking approval to raze three buildings as part of the enabling work for the UI Health Care Inpatient Tower. The Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Center, Hospital Parking Ramp 1, and the water tower on Hawkins Drive each sit within the footprint of the planned new tower and need to be razed before tower construction can begin.
None of the structures has historical or architectural significance.
Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Center is home to the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, which will be relocated to the new Health Sciences Academic Building this summer.
Hospital Ramp 1 is being replaced by the newly-opened Hawkeye Parking Ramp that was constructed north of Kinnick Stadium. The university also is adding additional capacity with the nearby Arena Ramp, now under construction near the Dental Science Building and Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
The water tower is being replaced by a new, larger tower under construction near Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The larger tower is sized to serve the future inpatient tower and the rest of the university campus and hospital system.
If approved, the three structures will be razed this fall.