Recently completed renovations to the Student Services Building were designed to allow students easier access to university-provided services in a single, central location. “We are trying to consolidate student services in one building,” said Roger Graden, project manager. “It will be like a one-stop shop for students. It’s all part of our master plan.” The $4.3 million renovations, which were completed earlier this month, opened the building’s interior, making it “very spacious and more visible,” said Fritz Sauer, a student aid employee at the Academic Success Center. “It is easier to access the people and organizations that work here.” Graden said the university is consolidating similar departments and services into central locations for easier access by students and visitors. Renovations to Alumni Hall, the Student Services Building and Beardshear Hall will create areas that will house various departments devoted to helping students. The renovated Student Services Building now houses the Dean of Students Office, Student Counseling Service, Minority Student Affairs, non-public financial aid offices, Telstars phone center, the Student Support Center and the Academic Success Center. “[The office is] a lot nicer than what we had before,” said Patty Buckley, secretary for the Dean of Students Office. The renovations, which gutted the first and second floors of the building, were completed at the beginning of August, and offices were moved on Aug. 8. “We tore everything out of the first and second floors,” Graden said. “We put in new plumbing, wiring and added central air.” The porch on the south side of the building was redone to make room for more office space, Graden said. A new elevator also was added, and other floors in the building were updated with new carpet and paint. Many new security features were added to the building, some of which are new to Iowa State. A distress system was added to the student counseling offices. “If a counselor is having problems or feels threatened by a student, they can press a button which alerts the [Department of Public Safety] and others in the building,” Graden said. A key-card system also was installed on all doors and the elevator to the building. The system allows students and faculty to gain limited access to the building at night, Graden said. The building also was made handicapped accessible, with the addition of automatic doors and the removal of the steps in front of the building. In conjunction with this project, a new brick plaza with benches is being constructed in front of the Student Service Building. That project is expected to be completed by September.