The ISU athletic department is renovating the south end zone of Jack Trice Stadium, and it made public the architectural sketches outlining the planned renovations May 12.

The last strand of red tape looks to be cut by June 5, as the plans and schematics are headed to the Iowa Board of Regents for final approval.

“This project has multiple benefits for the institution, the athletics department and the football program,” said Jamie Pollard, director of athletics, in a press release. “There will be a significantly enhanced main entrance to campus, capitalizing on a natural symmetry between Jack Trice and Reiman Gardens, two university landmarks. Additionally, there will be a dramatically improved game atmosphere with the closed-in end zone.”

The first stage of construction will increase Jack Trice’s holding capacity to more than 61,000 fans, closing in the south end zone with an upper and lower seating bowl.

The structure that will be erected on the south end of the stadium will also be complete with a new two-story premium club space, and it will connect the east and west concourses while also providing a new HD-quality video board and sound system to help ramp up the noise.

“The atmosphere of an enclosed stadium-supported by a huge video board at each end of the stadium will significantly enhance the game day experience,” Pollard said in a press release.

The upper level of the club section will have glass facades facing both directions, providing wide views of the stadium to the north and Reiman Gardens to the south. It will also provide more permanent seating options for Cyclone fans.

ISU officials are still reviewing conceptual considerations for a second phase of construction that would aim at renovating the nearby green space and parking areas.

The initial renovation has a projected completion date of August 2015. Both phases of renovation are folded into a $60 million enhancement to the main entrance to the ISU campus as well as the football complex.