A major renovation to the Iowa Memorial Union received a green light from the Iowa Board of Regents April 24. CREDIT JUSTIN TORNER
Renovations proposed for the University of Iowa’s Iowa Memorial Union were approved during the Iowa Board of Regents’ meeting April 24. The 100-year-old building, located at 125 N. Madison St. in Iowa City, currently houses student health and legal services, a food pantry, clothing closet, Iowa Hawk Shop, a large banquet and ballroom space, as […]
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Renovations proposed for the University of Iowa’s Iowa Memorial Union were approved during the Iowa Board of Regents’ meeting April 24.
The 100-year-old building, located at 125 N. Madison St. in Iowa City, currently houses student health and legal services, a food pantry, clothing closet, Iowa Hawk Shop, a large banquet and ballroom space, as well as several dining areas. The $81.4 renovation would bring student health, wellness and counseling services under one roof and address $55 million in deferred maintenance.
Currently, the University Counseling Service and Student Health are located in the Westlawn building, just west of the Iowa River.
Funding for the project has been spearheaded by students – both the undergraduate student government and the graduate and professional student government approved a new student fee of $100 to $120 per semester for the 2023-2024 academic year. The Student Health Services reserve fund will also help finance the project.
Regent Robert Cramer expressed support for the project.
“You don't see that from students very often, so they want it,” he said, concerning the student-led funding. “I think it'll be a good recruiting tool for the university. But even bigger than that is just the added space and the enabling it does for future projects.”
The project was proposed at a previous Board of Regents meeting Feb. 27, but was removed from the consent agenda after several regents expressed concern over the issue surrounding federal funding and higher education.
Regent David Barker, who expressed his misgivings at the previous meeting, reiterated them on Wednesday.
“I'm not convinced that it's necessary,” he said, of the project. “I think (there is) a big difference between desirable and necessary, and I think that the world is changing quickly. The financial environment for higher education is changing, and changing rapidly. I think that this is a time that it makes sense for us to pause on some large projects and to consider that environment.”
Senior Vice President for Finance and Operations Rod Lehnertz said the renovations will occur in stages, between spring 2025 and spring 2027.
Renovations also approved for UI Health Care hematology, oncology Bettendorf clinic
University of Iowa Health Care will begin renovations on its hematology and oncology clinic in Bettendorf this fall after receiving board approval.
University of Iowa Health Care's oncology/hematology clinic at 1351 Kimberly Rd. in Bettendorf. CREDIT UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
Renovations on the UI Health Care Cancer Services - Quad Cities building “will replace and upgrade specialized HVAC electrical systems and equipment to support a computed tomography and linear accelerator spaces and equipment in 7,100 square feet,” Mr. Lehnertz told the board, and would address $2.3 million in deferred maintenance.
The university bought a portion of the clinic, located at 1351 Kimberly Rd., in 2023 for $1.8 million. The project’s estimated completion date is spring 2026, and will be funded by UI Health Care Earnings and Equity.
