What you need to know about the University of Iowa's newest major building project
The Iowa State Board of Regents approved a request to build a new $249 million academic building at the University of Iowa during last week's meeting in Iowa City that will house three of the school's growing academic programs.
The proposed 263,000-square-foot, six-floor Health Sciences Academic building will begin the first construction phase on the UI campus this summer.
It will be located on the west side of campus south of the Slater Dormoritory and east of the Fieldhouse in parking 14 along Melrose Avenue. The new structure will be adjacent to the Gerdin Athletic Learning Center along Melrose Avenue, housing the Communication Sciences and Disorders program, Health and Human Physiology, as well as Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Services.
UI senior vice president for finance and operations Rod Lehnertz brought the request for proposal to the Board of Regents June 14. He mentioned how health and human physiology is the fastest-growing liberal arts degree in Iowa City, noting that the program is limited in its current space in the nearby UI Fieldhouse. He said the physical therapy and rehabilitation services program has also outgrown its current space in the Medical Education building, which was built in 1919.
Here's why the three programs are making the move
The UI's Health and Human Physiology department boast the largest total enrollment within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, supporting the studies of 2,200 undergraduate students as well as 100 graduate students as of the fall 2022 semester. The department has six areas of study, including the expanding sport and recreation management discipline. The current major enlists 800 students and has outgrown its longstanding UI Fieldhouse space.
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According to the UI Office of strategic communication, the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Program is home to 150 doctorate students and has an enrollment growth of 33%.
The Communication Sciences and Disorders Program is currently located within the Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Center on Hawkins Drive, which will soon be torn down to make room for a new inpatient tower at the UI Hospitals and Clinics. The adult inpatient tower will be located north of the UI Hospital with construction expected to begin in 2025.
“The new academic building will go a long way toward helping the university carry out its missions of educating our students, recruiting world-class faculty, and providing the state of Iowa with health care professionals for its aging population,” Lehnertz said in a university press release. “In addition, the programs that will be located in the building are some of the most well-regarded in the country and among the fastest-growing programs offered to our students.”
Construction begins soon
Construction of the health sciences building begins this summer and is funded by UIHC building usage funds, Treasurer’s temporary investment income, and UI Facility Corp. bond proceeds. Lehnertz also said the three programs the building will house are notable enough to draw philanthropic support.
“All three programs support the training of Iowa’s future health care workforce, and have demand for program growth, which is not supported by their current facilities,” the University’s proposal said. “Co-locating these programs would support collaboration between students, faculty and staff of each program, and harness shared university resources, including classrooms, conferencing space and building support space.”
Brandon Hurley is editor of the Iowa City Press-Citizen as well as the Ames Tribune. He can be reached by email at bhurley@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: UI to begin work on $249 million, six floor health sciences building
