Since 1957, thousands of ISU students have studied and slept in Helser Hall. But now when former Helser residents return to campus, they may be surprised to see that their dorm room isn’t there anymore.

The demolition of Helser, which started May 15, marked the beginning of the revitalization of the Union Drive neighborhood. That is another phase in the Department of Residence’s Master Plan.

The removal of Helser’s north wing is the start of the construction process for a community center and the first of three suite buildings, said Randy Alexander, director of the Department of Residence.

Henkel Construction of Mason City has begun the removal of the north wing, including its foundation and utilities, said James Judy, assistant director for facilities planning.

“It will probably last a month by the time they pull the foundation out, close up the end of the building and make everything permanent,” Judy said.

The first phase for removing Helser will be finished before students return in August, but working on the site in the middle of campus is difficult, he said.

“The traffic loop west of Helser will be unavailable next fall due to continuing construction on the first suite building,” Judy said, “but a temporary road will be constructed that exits to Sheldon Avenue.”

Henkel Construction and its subcontractors will be working throughout the school year while the first suite building is under construction, Judy said.

“Everything is going very well with Henkel. They’ve been very responsive to our needs and they are very good to work with,” Judy said.

Although Helser’s demolition will be the end of a housing era, the new construction is part of the university’s plan to improve student housing. The goal for the three suite buildings that will replace Helser is to establish an attractive community for younger students, Alexander said.

The gradual removal of Helser includes the construction of two more suite buildings occupying what now is Clyde Williams Field. The 1927 section of Friley Hall, west of the arch, will be removed to make room for the third suite building, Alexander said.

A community center will replace the north wing of Helser, he said, which will boast a new food department, convenience store, retail bakery, post office and sports club.

“The community center is still in the planning stages,” he said. “We’re in the process of designing and will propose the plan to the Board of Regents in September.”

Anne Mcdonald, senior in management information systems, was her house’s historian when she lived in Helser during the 1999-2000 school year.

Mcdonald said she was surprised that Helser was chosen to be demolished before the “shabbier” Towers Residence Halls. The only problem she noticed while living in Helser was finding spiders in the corners of her room.

“I know it was kind of old,” Mcdonald said. “If they think it needs to be improved, that’s fine with me.”