The relocation of faculty and staff from Marston Hall to locations all around campus began the week of June 9 and will continue throughout the summer in preparation for a $24 million renovation.

Although there have been many minor renovations in the past, this constitutes the first major renovation of Marston Hall since it was first completed in 1903. The project is scheduled to be finished by spring 2016.

“There has never been a holistic approach to the renovation of Marston,” said Kerry Dixon, a project manager for planning and construction management services.

Dixon said it was decided in the early stages of planning in late 2012 that it was more efficient to relocate the entire faculty and staff for the duration of the project.

“We’re trying to keep units together for convenience,” Dixon said. “But it won’t be as easy to just drop in as it was when everyone was centrally located.”

Most of the former tenants will make their new homes in vacant spaces on campus, but the dean’s office and career services will relocate to the first floor of the Memorial Union Hotel during the first week of August and remain there until the renovation is complete.

Mufit Akinc, professor of materials science and engineering and head of the Marston renovation committee, said there is, “An agreement between the provost and Memorial Union as to rent.”

The Marston planners are hoping to achieve the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold Standard. LEED awards points for specific environmentally friendly systems and designs then designates a building based on those points. The gold standard requires between 60 and 79 points.

“There’s nothing different in LEED that our basic standards on campus don’t address,” Dixon said. “It’s simply a matter of properly documenting your work, sort of like showing your work in math class.”

Dixon said she is confident that the renovations will earn the LEED certification.

Students and faculty alike are enthusiastic about the renovations and what they mean for the College of Engineering.

“All of the other flagship buildings on campus have had major renovations since I’ve been here,” said Akinc, who has been at Iowa State since 1981. “I’m very excited.”

Rachel Kelly, incoming freshman in engineering, said it will be nice to have a renovated building.

The planning committee’s focus has been on the needs of students, Akinc said.

“The whole project is going to better serve student needs,” he said.