The University of Iowa is progressing on its ten-year master plan, with construction in sight for some central campus buildings like the Iowa Memorial Union, Gilmore Hall, and the Pentacrest.

The UI first introduced its ten-year master plan in January 2022 when it was approved by the Iowa Board of Regents. The sprawling plan details projects expected to begin before 2032 on both the main academic campus and the health care campus on the west side of the Iowa River.

Some of the projects proposed in the original 2022 master plan are coming to fruition on campus, including renovations to modernize Hillcrest Residence Hall, the construction of the Goschke Family Wrestling Training Center, and a west side parking ramp.

Rod Lehnertz, UI senior vice president for finance and operations, said a key component of master planning is the ability to change the plan, if necessary, while efficiently utilizing every square foot of campus space.

“One of the beauties of a master plan is that we make sure opportunities are enabled and that we don’t paint ourselves into corners that we regret,” Lehnertz said.

Student Health, Wellness moves to Iowa Memorial Union

There have been multiple updates undertaken in buildings central to campus already, including the Iowa Memorial Union. This includes the addition of the Old Gold Creamery and a Starbucks coffee shop, the remodeling of the former Hills Bank location to become a space for the UI Food Pantry and Clothing Closet, and the opening of the HawkeyEsports Arcade.

More projects are coming. The Iowa House Hotel, which is located on the west side of the IMU, is expected to close following the fall 2024 semester to make room for renovations, including the eventual move of student services into the building.

Lehnertz said the first phases of renovations on the IMU could begin as early as spring 2025, with the entire project ideally completed in 2027. He said he did not know what phase the movement of student services will be in, but it is expected to relocate before the 2027 end date.

Sarah Hansen, UI vice president for student life, said they have used the IMU’s existing space in different ways in recent years to improve it for students without major renovations. In the coming years, the goal is to make the IMU a place designed for students by having increased natural light and collaborative workspaces.

There are multiple renovations planned for the IMU, Hansen said, including the move of all the UI’s well-being services currently located in Westlawn.

“That will put University Counseling Services, [and] Student Health, Student Wellness, Student Care and Assistance all kind of in a collaborative space,” Hansen said. “A one-stop shop for students around well-being and mental health in the center of campus, essentially, which I think is much more accessible to the majority of our students.”

Other projects slated for the IMU include changing the facade that faces Hubbard Park, more seating around that area, renovating the building so visitors can see through to the Iowa River from the building’s Clinton Street entrance, and so visitors can see above them to other floors, new food service options, more lounges, and more storage spaces, Hansen said.

“I think between all of those things, most of us probably won’t recognize good parts of the building. It’ll still be a historic memorial union, but I think we’ll be able to use it really differently in some positive ways,” Hansen said.

Hansen added that Mayflower Residence Hall has also received some updates over the summer, including upgraded food service options with warm grab-and-go options offered. The UI announced it would be keeping Mayflower in February after putting it up for sale the year prior. In the long term, Mayflower will be modernized to include lounge and study spaces on each floor.

Tippie expands

Each project in the ten-year master plan impacts other locations on campus like dominos, Lehnertz said. When one building is renovated, it can create space for another group. This is the case for Gilmore Hall, which currently houses the Graduate College and Department of Religion. Those services will relocate, and the Tippie College of Business will move some services into Gilmore Hall after those modernization efforts.

The university originally explored constructing a new building on an open piece of land across from the Pappajohn Business Building on Clinton Street to address the College of Business’ overpopulation issues, but it later opted not to. Lehnertz said modernizing Gilmore Hall and moving its services to other areas of campus, like the Performing Arts Annex after it is renovated, is the UI’s most fiscally responsible option.

The regents approved the UI’s request to expand Tippie College of Business into Gilmore Hall in June, and the project will be donor-funded. Amy Kristof-Brown, Tippie College of Business dean, said she is excited about the move, and the Pappajohn Business Building was modeled after Gilmore Hall.

“We were sort of given the option to then continue over into Gilmore, and it just seemed like a great way to honor the history of campus, while also getting the additional space that we need,”  Kristof-Brown said. “I also really like keeping the Pappajohn Business Building as the signature building on campus for business, and so this will be a way to bring you more into that image of Pappajohn while not creating something that competes with it.”

Kristof-Brown said she is looking forward to the building becoming more sustainable, while also helping meet the college’s capacity needs. Every office in Pappajohn Business Building is full, with some faculty doubled up in offices.

“We know we need the space, and we have a lot of folks eager to help us do it, which is great,” Kristof-Brown said. “I’m really excited for the opportunity to lean into some of the history of this campus and take a building that has meant a lot to many different people and really turn it into something that’s a vibrant, active space as part of the business college. I think it’s going to be terrific.”

There are already some donations for the renovations, and both donors and Kristof-Brown are looking forward to seeing the modernized version of the building.

“I’m all for reusing and taking areas that have fallen into a state of needing modernizing in order to be most useful to today’s students. That’s really what we’re thinking about,” Kristof-Brown said. “What do today’s students need, and what kinds of areas do we need to help support their learning and their success, and how can we make that happen in a frame of a building that means so much to this campus?”

RELATED: UI continues with multiple capital improvement projects as part of ten-year master plan

The construction and relocation into Gilmore Hall will occur when other renovations are completed across campus allowing the groups presently located in the hall to move to a new space, Lehnertz said.

Other projects advance

Different programs will likely be relocated as projects occur throughout the next eight years, including the movement of the department of dance to the Performing Arts Annex and computer science to the Iowa Advanced Technology Laboratories building, where construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2025, Lehnertz said.

Other major projects within the ten-year master plan include:

• Construction of the Hawkeye Parking Ramp on the west side of campus
• Construction of the UI Gymnastics/Spirit Squad Training Center
• Renovations to Jessup, MacLean, and MacBride Halls
• Razing of Westlawn
• Razing of Halsey Hall to expand the IMU Parking Ramp

Lehnertz said seeing projects come to fruition has been one of the most rewarding parts of his job over the last 30 years.

“I can look back in almost any campus photograph and say, ‘Ah, I remember when it was a dream,’ or when we didn’t even think that could happen,” Lehnertz said. “And on our little campus, they
happen.”