ISU update

besserheimerphat · 07-12-2008, 10:18 PM

scyclonekid - do you work for Central Stores? I worked there from '99 - '04. That managed to be both a cool and crappy job all at the same time. The work sucked, but we got access to some cool places. Plus we got to drive on the sidewalks.

ornryactor · 07-12-2008, 10:25 PM

Oh, another thing: they're completely replacing the exterior staircase on Curtiss Hall. The old steps were the originals, and were so badly grooved that going down them had actually become dangerous. People were slipping and falling and such. Since the university doesn't like people with broken skulls suing them, they hired a mastor stoneworker (or mason or whatever they're called) to oversee replacement. The new steps will be absolutely identical to the originals, so no worries there. I never would have guess how huge a job it is, though- it's taking all summer, and they're also replacing the entire supporting structure beneath the steps.

What else? The ground floor and south exterior stairs of Carver got a big renovation last fall. The Hixon-Lied Academic Success Center opened up last year, as well, right across from MWL (where the Wallace Rd. Office Building used to be). Once the Alumni Association finishes moving out, Fisher-Nickell House will be demolished this month. Though nothing has been announced, it's a sure thing that Andrews-Richards House is going to go sooner or later. (Currently used by Human Development/Family Studies.)

jaretac · 07-12-2008, 10:56 PM

Originally Posted by ornryactor

The ground floor and south exterior stairs of Carver got a big renovation last fall.

That think that was 2+ years ago. I know it was before I started working for the university in '06.

Originally Posted by ornryactor

Though nothing has been announced, it's a sure thing that Andrews-Richards House is going to go sooner or later. (Currently used by Human Development/Family Studies.)

That would be awesome if it happens, but I would not expect to see that happen for at least 2+ years. There is no other place for them to move to.

One of the biggest projects last year was the Curtiss Auditorium renovation. I had some classes in there my freshmen year, why couldn't they have remodeled it earlier?

bmuff · 07-12-2008, 10:58 PM

I'll add a few more updates:

The new Alumni Center will be home to ISU AA tailgates for every home FB game. They may even have live music. Also, they will now be renting out the facility for weddings, etc. There's supposed to be a large ballroom and it even has Cy's Pub and Parlor inside. It will also be a meeting place for alumni to park, meet and shuttle to campus. Should be a nice gameday and year round addition.

The Memorial Union addition/renovation is pretty much complete. For those of you who don't know, they've remodeled multiple rooms including the Great Hall and moved the welcome desk. Most people would not recognize the University Book Store now. It occupies the top floor of the new addition and has tons more room. There is a new convenience store right across from the entrance now. The bottom floor is going to house an ISU welcome center that is just now under construction.

Morrill Hall has been completely renovated...finished a year or so ago. Very nice inside.

The Hub IMO has nearly doubled in size.

The first part of the Biorenewables Complex (the Biorenewables Lab?) should start construction this fall. The other two parts down the line are the Ag/Biosystems Engineering Building (Elings Hall) and a parking structure.

There's a feasibility study underway to look at renovating Curtis.

jaretac · 07-12-2008, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by bmuff

I'll add a few more updates:
The other two parts down the line are the Ag/Biosystems Engineering Building (Elings Hall) and a parking structure.

The parking ramp still hasn't received funding, nor has it been planned. Building the west ramp is also contingent on future development on west campus; however, with the Design Pavilion, the bio renewable building, and the new recreation building (which will eat up resident parking lots), it's only a matter of time before it gets built.

bmuff · 07-12-2008, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by jaretac

The parking ramp still hasn't received funding, nor has it been planned. Building the west ramp is also contingent on future development on west campus; however, with the Design Pavilion, the bio renewable building, and the new recreation building (which will eat up resident parking lots), it's only a matter of time before it gets built.

It has been planned. The facilities spreadsheet has the design phase 100% done. I've seen renderings of all three buildings (including the ramp) together. You're right though, it hasn't received funding. IMO this wouldn't be started until after Elings is complete and that isn't supposed to be done until 2013. It is way down the line and it is possible that it MAY never be built. I would assume though that this ramp would be more like the one across from Food Science and not like the ramp by the MU.

ornryactor · 07-12-2008, 11:52 PM

Originally Posted by bmuff

I would assume though that this ramp would be more like the one across from Food Science and not like the ramp by the MU.

That'd be too bad. ISU doesn't need another parking "deck" over there; it needs a honest-to-goodness parking ramp. It doesn't have to be 8 levels tall, like the MU, but it should certainly be bigger than the two smallish levels of the East Campus deck.

Do you know where we can see the renderings of the 3-building complex? I'm extremely interested in seeing that.

jaretac · 07-12-2008, 11:58 PM

Originally Posted by bmuff

It has been planned. The facilities spreadsheet has the design phase 100% done. I've seen renderings of all three buildings (including the ramp) together. You're right though, it hasn't received funding. IMO this wouldn't be started until after Elings is complete and that isn't supposed to be done until 2013. It is way down the line and it is possible that it MAY never be built. I would assume though that this ramp would be more like the one across from Food Science and not like the ramp by the MU.

That is what I would guess too. All I know is that Parking is working this year on the rest of the planning and securing funding. I got that from an extremely reliable source. I'm guessing what you saw was initial plans that haven't been finalized.

bmuff · 07-13-2008, 12:28 AM

Originally Posted by ornryactor

That'd be too bad. ISU doesn't need another parking "deck" over there; it needs a honest-to-goodness parking ramp. It doesn't have to be 8 levels tall, like the MU, but it should certainly be bigger than the two smallish levels of the East Campus deck.

Do you know where we can see the renderings of the 3-building complex? I'm extremely interested in seeing that.

I guess from this picture, it looks a lot closer to the MU ramp than the east parking ramp.

Inside Iowa State

jaretac · 07-13-2008, 12:57 AM

Thanks bmuff. It says that it is a 4 level deck and will cost 22 million.

moo-u · 07-13-2008, 08:15 AM

[quote=jaretac;538316]I don't think the Athletic dept even knows how the concerts are going to help/hurt. SMG has not be forthcoming with information to help the Athletic dept get settled.......

Well, it would have been a bit naive to have expected them
to be overjoyed at losing the business, but then there's always
the saying about "not burning bridges".

Bottom line is, if there wasn't any money to be made they would
have been more than happy to have walked away from "a whole
lot of work for no pay"

"THANKS" for the original post. It's nice to hear how things are being
kept up and improved on campus. Is there any pics on how
some of these "on campus" projects are going? It would be
cool to watch some of them like you could with the interactive
Cams they installed on the towers a few years ago.

m.

jaretac · 07-13-2008, 12:04 PM

Check out FP&M's web site at: ISU Facilities Planning and Management. They have live web cams for some of the projects. My only other suggestion is to download Google earth and look at the pictures that myself and other people have uploaded. Or actually, I guess you can go to this website to see those same pictures: Panoramio - Photos of the World.

Rogue52 · 07-13-2008, 11:49 PM

The Caribou Coffee is going to be fully owned and operated by ISU Dining? I wish some other companies would allow this since ISU Dining ran all the MU food court tenants out.

ornryactor · 07-14-2008, 01:55 AM

Originally Posted by Rogue52

The Caribou Coffee is going to be fully owned and operated by ISU Dining? I wish some other companies would allow this since ISU Dining ran all the MU food court tenants out.

Yeah, that's too bad. Though, to be fair: (1) that happened before we had our current Dining director, who probably would not have allowed that to happen, and (2) McDonald's ran itself out of business. They decided to stop accepting Dining Dollars, then they decided to stop accepting CyCash, then they decided that their food had to be paid for in transactions separate from anything else in the food court. People just didn't want to put up with the hassle, so we/they stopped buying McDonald's food, and they went out of business due to lack of revenue.

But yeah, I wish we had franchised places instead of what we DO have there. Subway's great, but still.

d4nim4l · 07-14-2008, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by jaretac

ISU has installed a new warning system through out campus. There are five: one at Beyer, Forker, UV, VetMed, and Jack Trice. Should come in handy next time our mascot shows up at a game.

I don't know why, but I found this very funny.

Edit: Before anyone says anything...I'm well aware of the 2005 Colorado game. I just found it funny to have a warning system for a mascot.