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Dedicated to improving academic
achievement and increasing student
retention and graduation rates. This
$10 million facility is home to the
Academic Success Center, which
provides services directed to any Iowa
State student in need of academic
counseling or support.
The center includes a resource library,
computer labs, individual and group study
rooms, and meeting and classroom space.
It is also home to the Hixson Opportunity
Awards program and the Rod and Connie
French Athletics Academic Center.
Iowa State Center—This complex was
completed 1969–1975 by the Iowa State
University Foundation, entirely without
the use of appropriated funds.
The center includes three buildings:
• C. Y. Stephens Auditorium—
Showcases internationally
renowned performances of ballet,
musical theatre, and classical
music. Selected as Iowa’s Building
of the Century by the American
Institute of Architects. Seats 2,750.
• J. W. Fisher Theater—Provides
an intimate setting for the Iowa
State theatre department’s student
productions and dance events.
Seats 450.
• Scheman Continuing Education
Building—Ideal for seminars,
conferences, group meetings, and
art instruction. Houses Brunnier
Gallery and Museum. Includes
Benton Auditorium which seats
450.
Jeff and Deb Hansen Agriculture
Student Learning Center—Unique to
Iowa State and nearly all of the Midwest,
this learning center allows animal-human
interaction through teaching laboratories,
outreach activities and a variety of
functions for future and current students.
With four classrooms and a large
arena, this space is also utilized by the
community for a multitude of events.
King Pavilion—Provides a home primarily
for freshman students in the College
of Design’s Core Design Program and
sophomore students in the first year of
their professional programs. King Pavilion
was the first new green-constructed
building on campus and features Iowa
State’s first green roof.
Memorial Union—After World War I
ended, there was an interest on campus
in erecting a memorial to Iowa Staters
who died in the war. After talking about
a bronze plaque or a gateway arch, an
outspoken group headed by the editor
of the student paper lobbied for a living
memorial—a building that would provide
Lake LaVerne, the home of Lancelot
and Elaine, was created with a $10,000
donation in 1916 by LaVerne W. Noyes.
Noyes, a wealthy Chicago philanthropist
and member of the first graduating class
of 1872, funded a lake in what had been
a three-acre marsh area, fed by College
Creek. Another Iowa State tradition: If
you walk around Lake LaVerne three
times in silence with your beloved,
you are destined to be together.
Homecoming
Alumni first began returning to Iowa
State for an official Homecoming in
1912. Since then, the celebration
continues to entertain both young and
old Iowa Staters with traditional events,
including tailgate parties, fireworks,
lawn displays, “Yell Like Hell” cheering
competition, and mass campaniling.
Student Alumni Leadership Council helps
plan all of the Homecoming events.
The Hub
The Hub was formerly the depot of the
“Dinky,” a tiny, narrow-gauge steam
engine that ran between the college and
downtown Ames from 1891 to 1907. The
Dinky was replaced by an electric trolley
which operated from 1907 to 1929. The
Hub served as the bookstore until 1958
and was remodeled in 1987, 2008, and
2018. It now houses The Roasterie, a
coffeeshop which features beverages and
tasty treats. Another new addition to The
Hub is Heaping Plato, a Mediterranean-
themed spot that features homemade
pitas, high-quality shaved gyro-style
meats and fresh ingredients. There
also will be vegan, vegetarian and halal
options.
The Zodiac
Who knows what prompted that first
student to step around the bronze zodiac
relic on the floor of the Gold Star Hall in
the Memorial Union, but for more than
70 years, subsequent students have done
likewise, understanding that to step on
the zodiac is to ensure that they will flunk
their next exam.
It should be noted that staff, faculty,
and alumni members also detour the
enchanted circle, indicating the solemn
belief that bad luck may befall more than
just test-takers. The bad luck can be
dissipated by throwing a coin into the
Fountain of the Four Seasons directly
outside the door, but most students
don’t want to risk it.
Campus
Campus and recreation areas cover
1,984 acres. The following are
descriptions of some of our outstanding
facilities and collections.
Alumni Center—Completed fall 2008,
the Alumni Center was built to house the
Alumni Association and Student Alumni
Leadership Council. The Alumni Center
serves as an enhancement to student life,
alumni homecomings, and community and
alumni engagement.
The center was built using donations
to the Alumni Association with Roy and
Bobbi Reiman donating $9 million toward
the building’s construction. The building
is part of Iowa State’s “Live Green!”
campaign and uses geothermal energy for
heating and cooling.
Art on Campus Collection—Iowa State is
home to one of the largest campus public
art programs in the United States. Over
2,000 works of public art, including 600
by significant national and international
artists, are located across campus in
buildings, courtyards, open spaces, and
offices.
Programs, receptions, dedications,
university classes, Wednesday Walks,
and educational tours are presented
on a regular basis to enhance visual
literacy and aesthetic appreciation of
this diverse collection.
Biorenewables Research Laboratory
(BRL)—This 70,000-square-foot-building
houses the Bioeconomy Institute as well
as research centers closely affiliated with
the Bioeconomy Initiative.
The Biorenewables Laboratory Building
keeps in the spirit of sustainability and
environment stewardships as an inherent
part of architectural design. The BRL
complies with guidelines adopted by
Leadership in Engineering and Design
(LEED). The greening of this new facility
includes sustainable products and building
materials, optimized energy performance,
rain water recovery, a chilled beam cooling
system, and native plants in the landscape
incorporating biomass crop specimens.
Cyclone Sports Complex—The
$13 million Cyclone Sports Complex
opened in the fall of 2012. It is the home
of Iowa State track and field, soccer, and
softball. On-site restrooms, a concession
stand, home and away locker rooms,
officials’ locker rooms, team meeting
rooms, an athletic training room, a press
box, bleachers, and a scoreboard are
among the new features that make it
a state-of-the-art facility.
Hach Hall—Houses cutting-edge
classrooms, lab space, and equipment.
Iowa State received a $10 million
commitment from Kathryn Hach Darrow
for the new chemistry building. The
building opened Fall 2010.
Hixson-Lied Student Success Center—