An $874,000 renovation and remodeling project is currently underway on two of the three floors of the State Gym.

“[The State Gym] was the first multi-purpose gymnasium on campus,” said Larry Cooney, director of Recreation Services. “It was built in 1913, so it has been a long time since any work has been done on this facility.”

Repairs to the roof began two weeks ago, while remodeling on the interior began late last week.

The basement and second level of the gym currently is closed off to the public, but the central area that includes offices and a wooden gym floor are still open.

“The lower level is going to become the new outdoor recreation center and program area,” Cooney said. “The offices in the upper level are being remodeled to house the administration and program staff.”

The central area, which currently is recreation offices, is going to become the Recreation Services and Student Center, Cooney said.

“This area will [provide] the student assistants more workspace,” Cooney said.

The student assistants are students who work with the sport clubs and the intramural, informal and outdoor recreation programs.

Remodeling and renovation will not occur on the central area.

Through the renovation, the current outdoor recreation center will be moved from the Armory to the State Gym to consolidate the services into one building.

“In spring 1999, an extension to the parking lot and a driveway leading to [an] entrance of the gym will be added,” said Mark Huss, project manager. “[The driveway] will allow students to load [and unload] sports equipment.”

Also included in the renovation plans for the lower level is an equipment rental program, a workshop and trip program and increased storage space for the sports clubs.

“We have 38 to 40 sports clubs, such as the Rodeo Club and hockey, that buy equipment and then have to find their own space to store the equipment,” Cooney said. “Each of the clubs will have their own storage spaces [after the renovation].”

Aside from the sports clubs, State Gym also offers fitness aerobic programs, open recreation facilities and 40 to 50 intramural programs.

Christopher K. Ahoy, associate vice president for Facilities Planning and Management, said Iowa State President Martin Jischke approved the remodeling of the gym.

“Our total budget is $1.3 million,” Ahoy said.

Cooney said the roof repair will cost $49,000 and the remodeling will cost $725,000.

“A bulk of the funding [for the project] will come from general university funds,” Huss said. “The remainder of the costs will come from building repair funds.”

Completion of the project is scheduled for February or March 1999, Huss said.