When State Gym was built in 1913, it housed only a few handball courts, a track and a swimming pool. Ninety-nine years later, the newly renovated State Gym offers many more amenities that include a wide variety of exercise machines and a 40-foot rock wall. In addition to these amenities, State Gym also has been updated to meet certain sustainability requirements. 

State Gym is designed to meet the standards of LEED-certified Gold. In a few months, project members — including Michael Giles, director of Recreation Services — hope to finish the application process to make the certification official.

“I think Iowa State in and of itself strives to be environmentally conscious,” Giles said when asked why it is important for the university to receive the Gold certification.

The project team has taken many measures to insure this level of certification is reached.

One sustainable feature of State Gym is a self-powered treadmill called the “ecomill,” which saves energy by not having a motor. In addition, State Gym utilizes low volatile organic compound paints, adhesives and carpet tile. These materials are more environment- and consumer-friendly, as the chemicals used to produce these materials are less harsh. Another sustainable feature is that all of the water in the building, including the water fountains, sinks and toilets, uses an automatic sensor to help prevent using more water than necessary.  

Recycled and refurbished materials were used when constructing the interior of State Gym. For example, the carpeting, ceiling tiles, counters and soundproofing were made from recycled materials. The gym floor from the old State Gym was refurbished and used in the woodwork within the building. To meet the university construction standard, at least 10 percent of building materials were manufactured within a 500-mile radius of State Gym.  

The largest sustainability feature of State Gym is the roof. It is designed to minimize heat gain and to collect rainwater runoff that can be used again for flushing the toilets.  A portion of the roof utilizes green roof technology. Giles described the roof as “a big garden.”  The green roof has a subsurface of soil, dirt and many different species of low-maintenance plants.  

The renovated State Gym is another example of Iowa State making strides to keep the university environmentally friendly. With its green roof, refurbished old gym floor and rainwater recycling capabilities, State Gym is an investment in Iowa State’s sustainable future.