The University of Iowa has big plans and will soon seek approval from the state's Board of Regents on projects totaling more than $125 million.

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Iowa says all of the projects the Board of Regents will soon vote on are part of its 10-year facilities master plan.

The most visible change to the public would be the university's plan to transform an existing surface parking lot, Lot 43, into a 985-space parkade. The parkade would be built on the north side of Kinnick Stadium, between Kinnick and Carver-Hawkeye Arena. It would replace Hospital Ramp 1, which will be demolished and eventually replaced by an inpatient hospital tower.

The $75 million parking ramp would have five levels and connect to the skywalk system that's already in place. A rendering of the parkade is below.

Rendering, University of Iowa
Rendering, University of Iowa
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Iowa also plans to add two levels to the south side of the existing Emergency Department at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Some of what already exists would also be renovated and extra space would be put in for additional needs that exist.

The cost of this project is estimated at $37 million.

Entrance to the UIHC Emergency Department on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
Liz Martin - Photographer - University of Iowa Health Care
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The University of Iowa also wants to renovate the Medical Laboratories Building and Medical Research Center. The buildings are nearly 100 and 70 years old, respectively, and portions of both have been renovated previously in their history.

The cost of the renovations is expected to be $7.8 million.

Med Labs on Wednesday, March 29, 2023.
Liz Martin
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Iowa also plans to renovate the seventh floor of Van Allen Hall, built in 1964, at a cost of $7.5 million. It would bring together a number of space physics research areas in the building onto the same floor. Work for NASA would be centered on that floor of the building.

Van Allen Hall area drone October 2022
Justin Torner - Staff Photographer - The University of Iowa
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In addition to the above, the University of Iowa will also ask the Board of Regents to allow planning to continue on a pair of other projects.

The first is a $41 million seventh-floor expansion of the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) in the U of I Stead Family Children's Hospital, as well as a connecting bridge to the John Pappajohn Pavilion.

Liz Martin - Photographer - University of Iowa Health Care
Liz Martin - Photographer - University of Iowa Health Care
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Finally, Iowa will seek to conclude work on the sixth floor of the Pharmacy Building, as well as do renovation work on floors three through five. The expected cost of that work is between $12 and $13 million.

Pharmacy Drone May 2021
Justin Torner - Staff Photographer - The University of Iowa
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Altogether, the estimated cost of the projects is more than $180 million, keeping in mind the work at the children's hospital and Pharmacy Building is still in the planning stages. The Board of Regents will vote on Wednesday, April 19. The University of Iowa says, if approved, construction could begin as early as soon as next month.

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