Still coming back from the flood
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In June 2008, floodwater overflowed parts of the UI campus, causing thousands to come together in sandbagging efforts to try to protect university buildings.
“It was very rewarding for me to see the rallying that occurred — thousands of students, community members, administration coming together for a singular cause,” UI student Ryan Novak recalled.
Though those who responded made a valiant effort and helped make what the UI is today, financial and structural problems still linger.
UI Vice President for Finance Doug True said damages are predicted to cost roughly $743 million. As of April 9, he said, approximately $124 million had been contracted, leaving a bulk of work ahead for the UI.
Not only does the planning include putting the campus back together, he said, but it also involves creating a full prevention and mitigation plan to protect the campus from future disasters.
Caution
A handful of major facilities remain closed on campus, and they could still be that way this summer and fall. It’s continually changing, though, so check the UI’s flood-recovery website for the latest updates at www.uiowa.edu/floodrecovery/.
These buildings are among those that remain closed:
• Hawkeye Court Apartments
• UI Museum of Art closed to art
• Voxman Music Building
• Clapp Recital Hall
• Art Building West
• Hancher Auditorium
• IMU basement level
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To make up for these closures, UI officials have relocated classes and practice space to many areas across campus and town, including:
• Studio Arts Building (old Menards building), 1375 Highway 1 W.
• University Capitol Centre, for music
• Clinton Street Music, on Clinton and Court Streets, for music
• UI Museum of Art open for music
• IMU will hold art from the Museum of Art
Cambus travels to or near these sites. Check the routes out on the website.
Recent decisions
UI officials have recently asked the state Board of Regents for permission to relocate the Hancher/Voxman/Clapp complex. They’ve got some choices on relocation — estimated to cost $276 million total — including Hubbard Park, an area north of the existing facilities, the Marching Band field, and three sites not yet owned by the university.
In their last meeting, regents unanimously approved the UI’s request to move the complex, but univeristy officials have not yet said which site they want to pursue. They’re likely to give more details in a June meeting.
“Cost is a factor, but by no means the only factor; it is a whole series of issues,” True said to regents in April.
As of that meeting, there was also no options yet for moving Art Building East.
Coming back better
And while UI Provost Wallace Loh said UI officials have been “frantically remodeling” buildings across the UI community, True said rebuilding means more than just repairing but “re-envisioning [campus] for the 21st century.”
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