University of Iowa research lab in Coralville destroyed in March 31 tornado
A University of Iowa research lab in Coralville suffered “irreparable” damage in March 31 storms that caused multiple tornadoes across eastern Iowa, the university's Iowa Now news service is reporting.
It said the College of Engineering’s James Street Laboratory at 2421 James St. was destroyed and will need to be rebuilt. No one was in the lab when the storm struck, and there were no injuries.
“We are devastated to see the damage to these core engineering research facilities,” Iowa Now quoted Harriet Nembhard, dean of the College of Engineering, as saying. “Although these losses were significant, we were relieved to learn that no faculty or staff were injured. Engineers are resilient. We will rebuild, and we will continue our critically important research.”
The university purchased the building in 2003, according to the UI facilities management. Iowa Now said the 14,818-square-foot facility housed a scale model of California's Santa Clara River that researchers used to study sustainable fish passages. It had been featured in a Big 10 Network promotional video.
It’s just one of several buildings heavily damaged in the storms, including a warehouse used by Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity on Iowa City's southeast side. Most of the destruction in Coralville was concentrated in the area from U.S. 6 to Boston Way, the neighborhood just southeast of Coral Ridge Mall where the lab is located along Clear Creek.
Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Reach her at PBarraza@press-citizen.com or 319-519-9731. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: University of Iowa research lab in Coralville destroyed in tornado
