LeBaron Hall Replacement
At its September meeting, the Board of Regents will consider approval of Iowa State’s proposed schematic design, project description and budget to demolish LeBaron Hall and replace it with a new building. The project also would renovate a small portion of adjoining MacKay Hall.
Constructed quickly during the post-world-war-2 higher education expansion, LeBaron Hall currently houses programs in the ISU College of Human Sciences. The building has seen no significant renovation since its original construction and its structural limitations prevent the addition of modern equipment.
Thus, ISU has proposed demolishing LeBaron Hall and replacing it with a new building to house the College of Human Sciences. The new facility will provide adaptable, state-of-the-art spaces that foster collaboration and innovation. Additionally, it will support interdisciplinary programs, provide state-of-the-art technology, add modern laboratories and expand teaching space that will enable the departments to recruit and retain top students, faculty and staff.
“We are beyond excited,” said Dr. Laura Jolly, dean and Dean’s Chair of the College of Human Sciences. “We know this project will be a game-changer for us in terms of quality instruction and benefit to students.”
Renowned as a pioneer in home economics, Iowa State University’s College of Human Sciences is built on that strong home economics foundation and includes programs and departments in apparel, merchandising and design, events management, hospitality management, food science and human nutrition, human development and family studies, kinesiology, and pre-kindergarten through higher education preparation. A comprehensive facilities assessment and space requirement study found that the Department of Apparel, Events and Hospitality Management lacked sufficient space and was limited by poor quality and outdated teaching and research space.
“We’re going to bring the space to life with a focus on students,” Jolly said. “The space will provide a central hub for us and students across the college will benefit. We feel so fortunate that we have alums and friends of the college that have stepped up to help us do this.”
The $39 million project will be funded by private giving and university funds.
