University of Iowa takes strides in adding on-campus housing

IOWA CITY - With the University of Iowa's first new residence hall since 1968 on budget and on track to house 501 students by next fall, officials are moving forward with plans to build a second even larger new dormitory across campus.

UI officials said they'll update the Board of Regents at its October meeting on preliminary plans for a new east side hall, including plans to clear the site of the old Iowa City Water Plant, which sits west of the North Campus Parking Ramp and behind Burge Residence Hall.

In September, regents authorized UI officials to proceed with plans for the new hall, which is expected to house about 800 students on seven to 10 floors and cost $80 to $90 million. That cost does not include provisions for additional dining services, which could require expansion of Burge's food service or an entirely new dining area.

An initial investigation is underway to determine the maximum capacity for a larger Burge dining area - which serves all students housed on the east side of campus - and whether more space is needed in the proposed new hall. Expanding Burge's dining capacity could cost $10 to $12 million, according to regent documents.

Tom Rocklin, UI vice president for student life, said Tuesday that most of the work on the new hall to date has involved plans to clear the site of the old water plant.

'The first step is to remove the buildings there now,” he said.

A second new residence hall would help the university accommodate its growth plans after the Board of Regents over the summer approved a new way of allocating state support that ties 60 percent of the dollars to in-state enrollment. The new funding model could pull tens of millions from the university if enrollment figures remain unchanged, but UI President Sally Mason said she's planning to add more Iowa residents.

The new $53 million residence hall under construction on the west side of campus, recently named the Mary Louise Peterson Residence Hall, is expected to welcome 501 new students next fall. But, when coupled with the demolition of nearby Quadrangle Hall, the residence system only will see a net increase of 143 beds.

And, according to regent documents, the UI's on-campus housing stock has been 'fully subscribed for many years.”

'Returning student requests to live on campus have been largely unmet, resulting in the need to lease multiple private apartment complexes,” UI officials reported to the Board of Regents.

A Tuesday tour through the new Peterson Residence Hall revealed crews focused on keeping the project on schedule after a brutal last winter caused delays and even stoppages.

'It slowed production down dramatically,” said Norman Steinbach, site superintendent with Miron Construction.

At least 45 days of subzero temperatures required more breaks, additional heating, and a need for project managers to address physical concerns among workers - including freezing fingers and hands.

'Those temperatures were life-threatening for folks,” Steinbach said.

On at least six days, according to Steinbach, the project was shut down completely due to arctic temperatures and wind chills. But, he said, once spring arrived, crews worked 'harder and faster and on Saturdays” to make up the lost time.

As for added expenses, Steinbach said, 'We just absorbed it.” And, with the towering structure heading toward full enclosure, this winter will be different.

'Regardless of what this winter brings, we will have the building delivered on April 30, as promised,” he said.

Steinbach on Tuesday showed off the hall's lower levels, including walled and painted rooms close to what new students will see next fall. Workers on floors above, meanwhile, were busy painting, caulking, and raising drywall. Some of the higher floors were in the electrical wiring phase.