Iowa State restores campus cooling system after Thursday fire

Iowa State University’s campus cooling system was back up and running Friday morning after a Thursday fire at the campus power plant knocked out its cooling system — canceling classes, closing buildings, and sending many students packing just days into the start of the fall semester.

Given the extreme heat since Monday, when the new academic year began, Thursday’s cooling-system disruption compelled campus administrators to advise instructors to either move their remaining classes online or cancel them altogether, which many did.

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With air-conditioning absent from all 20 of its residence halls, ISU leadership also suggested any students who could to head home for the weekend while the university addressed the issue.

Although ISU facilities employees restored the system by Friday morning, administrators said returning buildings to normal temperatures could take time.

“Which is why the university worked to prioritize student services for those who are still on campus,” according to an update from ISU News Service. “Friday classes will remain virtual or canceled. In-person classes will resume on Monday.”

Even with air-conditioning restored, half of Iowa State’s residence halls don’t have A/C — meaning about one-third of on-campus residents have either been sweating through the nights or finding creative workarounds, like sleeping in communal floor dens with window air-conditioning units.

During the day, they’ve been finding respite in campus buildings like the ISU Memorial Union or Thielen Student Health Center.

Although buildings were closed Thursday, they reopened Friday, according to ISU News Service.

All have regular operating hours unless noted, including ISU dining services; the ISU Bookstore, opening at 9 a.m.; Memorial Union; Thielen Student Health Center; Student Services Building; Parks Library (including Tech Lending) — opening for partial service from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sloss House; Hixon-Lied Student Success Center; Lied Recreation Center, State Gym and Beyer Hall; The SHOP, located at Beyer Hall; Student Innovation Center — open until 5 p.m.; and the Design Building — opening at noon for studio work and collaboration spaces.

Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette.

Comments: (319) 339-3158; vanessa.miller@thegazette.com