Being used for almost 57 years, the old Faculty Art Studios, located between the Hawkeye Tennis Rec Complex and the Hawkeye Commuter Parking Lot, will be demolished this spring.
The one story building with 65000 square foot was in a poor condition due to negligence. The damage was so severe that the workers there couldn’t work efficiently. So a replacement building was completed last September and stands within the UI’s Oakdale Research Park.
The proposal document from the UI to the State of Iowa Property and Facilities Committee said the razing of the old studios is a small part of a larger project that includes the demolition of several other campus buildings, including Seashore Hall and the Communications Center.
The larger projects will save UI $35 million in deferred maintenance costs that older buildings would need to remain functional. The demolition of the old studios and the construction of their new, up-to-date replacement will save $694,264 in estimated future maintenance.
The condition of the old building varied from studio to studio. there were some studio which were mostly functional while the others had severe damage which was beyond salvation.The old studios will be demolished at the cost of about $80,000 which is a part of $195,000 allotted for the project, which includes the “abatement, design, demolition, and restoration of the old Faculty Art Studios site to a green space.”
The new building, the Oakdale Studio Facility, has given the faculty an updated, refreshing space. The new studios are located about six miles from the UI’s main campus, at Oakdale Research Park. The building contains 14 customizable studio spaces and was constructed with the current program’s needs and goals in mind.
The new facilities feature two long alcoves with studio spaces off each one, as well as a shared gallery area for displaying artwork and storing shared equipment. These space will allows the workers improved access and ability to do the work with continued excellence. Director of the School of Art and Art History Steve McGuire said the new studios will ultimately provide an upgraded space where the Art Department faculty can effectively accomplish their work, and act as another example of how the UI stays true to the arts and faculty research.