Regents OK several UI construction projects

CEDAR FALLS -- State regents gave the green light to University of Iowa officials Thursday to proceed with planning and work on several construction projects.

The state Board of Regents, during a meeting in Cedar Falls, gave permission to proceed with project planning on the UI Pharmacy Building replacement and improvement. That $90 million project would build a new facility and also modernize space in the 1996 Pharmacy addition for laboratory functions. The College of Pharmacy original building was constructed in 1961, and officials said it can no longer serve the intensive educational space needs of the college. The total project cost of $90 million would be funded with future state appropriations and collegiate and university gifts and earnings.

The regents also approved the designs and budget plans for a $14.6 million project at the UI Main Library. The project will add the Learning Commons by renovating space on the first floor of the library to house one 45 to 54 seat TILE classroom, which stands for Transform, Interact, Learn, Engage; 16 small group and two large group study rooms; and an expanded Food for Thought cafe. The project also will reconstruct the first floor restrooms and add an accessible Madison Street entrance.