Proposed 5-story parking garage north of Kinnick Stadium Photo: University of Iowa
(Iowa City, IA) -- The University of Iowa is asking the Iowa Board of Regents to approve four campus construction projects. Iowa wants to build a five-story parking ramp north of Kinnick Stadium. University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics wants to expand the Emergency Department. There are also plans to renovate a floor on Van Allen Hall and the Medical Laboratories Building. Funding sources vary. The Regents will vote on the proposals on April 19th.
The University says the ER expansion will be paid for with building usage funds. The parking garage would be paid for with bonds. The Medical Laboratories Building work would be funded by State of Iowa Economic Recovery Funding and Treasurer's Temporary Investment Income. The Van Allen Hall project would be paid for by Building Renewal Funds.
*The ($75 million) West Campus Parking ramp, north of Kinnick Stadium would have 985 parking spaces and a skywalk. The ramp will replace Hospital Ramp 1, which will be demolished to make way for the future hospital inpatient tower.
*The UI Hospitals & Clinics ($37 million) Emergency Department expansion aims to create more space to meet the needs of the Behavioral Health Emergency Department. The plans include converting and upgrading space for pediatric patient rooms and pediatric behavioral health rooms.
*A $7.5 million project would renovate the 7th floor of Van Allen Hall, bringing together several space physics research areas into a consolidated location. The space will feature climate control technology to support sensitive electronics and manufacturing work the department does for NASA.
*A $7.8 million project would renovate the Medical Laboratories Building for pediatric research. Both existing buildings have been renovated in the past. The proposed changes would address physical deficiencies that impair ongoing research. Some of the renovated space will be devoted to the Department of Pediatrics research related to diseases such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, and diabetes.
The projects are part of the university’s 10-year facilities master plan and, if approved, construction could begin as early as May.