When incoming ISU President Gregory Geoffroy arrives later this summer, his on-campus home will still be under construction.

Geoffroy’s future residence has been undergoing work to expand the building and improve its condition.

Dean McCormick, head of facility planning and management and construction administration, is overseeing the project. McCormick said many different areas of the house are undergoing work.

“We’ve demolished the garage and are adding in a new garage with family space above it that will be a two-story addition,” McCormick said. “We’re also putting in a new kitchen and fixing up other locations in the home.”

McCormick said there are multiple reasons it’s important to keep the president’s house looking nice.

“I think that the president entertains a lot of people at the Knoll, which means that it’s necessary to keep the house looking presentable,” McCormick said. “It’s necessary [to remodel] because we have a 100-year-old house that has been sporadically updated, and it’s time for it to be brought to current standards.”

McCormick said all of the funding for the construction is coming from the ISU Foundation. The entire renovation is expected to cost $1.5 million.

Geoffroy will start his position July 1, but the construction on the Knoll is not expected to be finished until August. Geoffroy will be moving into the house as soon as it is finished; until then, he will be staying in an apartment.

“We knew at the time work began at The Knoll that renovation probably would not be completed when Dr. Geoffroy arrived at Iowa State,” said John McCarroll, director of university relations. “We’ve made arrangements to have an apartment in Ames for President Geoffroy to live in for four to six weeks.

“The university will cover the cost of the apartment, and we expect it will total around $1,500 to $2,000.”

At this time, it is unclear as to who will be staying in the university-paid apartment and in the Knoll with Geoffroy.

“His youngest son has one year of high school left – he’ll be completing high school in Maryland. Mrs. Geoffroy has said that she plans to be here as much as she can during the academic year,” McCarroll said.

McCormick said that construction is currently on track to be to finished by its deadline.

“Construction is going well,” McCormick said. “We’ve had some tough, rainy weather, but our progress is continuing. We hope to finish the house for August completion.”