Post-flood University of Iowa arts campus offers fresh start

For the first time since the flood waters destroyed the UI arts campus, some normalcy has returned this fall.

During a tour of the newly built and furnished homes for the art and music students, some UI faculty were able to see a fresh start for the programs.

Diane Machatka, UI associate director for the office of planning, designing and construction, said completing the project by deadline was the biggest hurdle to overcome.

“It was a challenge,” she said. “But it was a fun challenge.”

Once spread across seventeen buildings in fall of 2008, the UI arts campus has been able to relocate to just eight locations.

Music Students, which are housed in the Old Capital Centre now have the luxury of technology that didn't exist in the old buildings.

Benjamin Coelho, a UI associate bassoon professor said students can now have the benefit of a high tech sound proof virtual acoustic environment system that allows students to hear their music as it would be played in any venue.

Despite major location changes for the UI musicians, freshman music student Rachel Leeper said they are just lucky to have somewhere to play.

Machatka said the greatest challenge was finding contractors who were able to take on such a major project.

“It's one thing to talk about what you want to do, but another about what you can build,” she said.

The Museum of Art has also gotten a new start in the IMU, and will be opening to the public Sept. 8 - though only 250 of the over 12,000 piece collection have been able to return so far.

Other new locations include the former Phi Kappa Theta fraternity house, for the performing arts offices and classrooms, and the Hilles House, 122 E. Market St., which is a display hall for the School of Art and Art History.

And while the logistics of funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency aren't settled, UI Business Manager George Hollins said he is sure the money will come through.