Iowa State first proposed the Facilities Expansion and Renovation project in 2006. “The project’s goal was to expand recreation offering,” according to the Division of Student Affairs. Renovations were to occur in State Gym and Beyer Hall as well as the installation of air conditioning in Lied Recreation Center. According to a Board of Regents’ report docket, the estimated cost of facilities expansion and renovation was $55 million.

According to student assessment surveys from 2008, 49 percent said the University should make the development of new facilities a high priority and 39 percent indicated developments were of medium priority. 54 percent of respondents indicated that improvements needed to be made on the west side of campus. In February 2008, the student body voted on the renovation project; the referendum passed with 52.1 percent voting for the project.

According to the Division of Student Affairs, RDG Planning & Design was hired as project architect in July 2008. In the following September, the Special Student Fee and Committee approved a recreation fee of $40.00 per student to fund the project. The Board of Regents later approved financing of the project through two series of 25-year bonds and the support of student fees.

After RDG Planning & Design presented schematic designs and drawings to the Government of the Student Body, the Iowa State Daily, the public at a town hall meeting and the Board of Regents, who officially approved the design and budget. In April of 2009, the project moved into the design and development phase.

In spring 2010, construction of the State Gym renovation and expansion began. The gym was set to open in fall of 2011 but was pushed back a semester due to a setback. “The major [one] was the inability to obtain needed materials to complete the exterior of the facility,” said Michael Giles, director of Recreation Services.

On Jan. 9, 2012, the renovated State Gym finally opened to Iowa State.