The Iowa Board of Regents recently approved the renovation of Morrill Hall, deeming it a “historic structure” in the process.

The renovation has a price tag of more than $10 million and is planned to take a year and a half.

“It was placed on the national register for state significance,” said Kerry Dixon-Fox, project manager for facilities planning and management. “Morrill Hall is the second-oldest building on campus.”

The building was completed in 1891 for $28,739. The cost of renovations has increased from the original $9 million to $10.29 million.

Dixon-Fox said the rise in cost was because of increased gasoline prices as well as fluctuations in the steel industry.

The extra cost for renovations will be spread over several contributors to the project.

“There is some money coming from utilities and the ISU Foundation has been asked to increase,” Dixon-Fox said.

She said the ISU Foundation and ISU Utilities have each contributed an additional $300,000, and ISU President Gregory Geoffroy’s office has provided $600,000 from the treasurers’ temporary investment fund.

In the total cost of Morrill Hall renovations, private donations have exceeded $7.5 million, Dixon-Fox said. Capital appropriation provided $850,000 for classroom work, utilities contributed $300,000, $250,000 came from strategic initiatives and the President’s office provided nearly $1.16 million.

The renovation contract was awarded to Harold Pike Construction Co. of Ames.

“We started construction on the 16th of May,” said Curtis Pike, project manager. “We’re supposed to be done in January of 2007.”

According to the National Register of Historic Places, the building was added to the official list in June 1996 for state importance.

Dixon-Fox said George Washington Carver, famous for creating more than 400 products from peanuts and sweet potatoes, was rumored to have taken classes in Morrill Hall while attending Iowa State.