After years of planning and designing, Stanley and Helen Howe Hall is beginning to take shape, and more projects are in the works.

The first phase of the College of Engineering’s remodeling project, the Engineering Teaching and Research Complex, is slated to open in August 1999, just in time for next year’s fall semester of classes.

“For the most part, the progress is right on schedule,” said David Holger, associate dean of engineering. “There are always a few hold-ups for things like rain and such, but we’ve planned minor delays into the plans.

“We still expect to be done on time,” he said.

The 163,000 square-foot facility features a 300-seat auditorium, several hi-tech learning facilities, multiple research and teaching laboratories, and it will centralize the offices for the Department of Aerospace Engineering.

“The facilities in this new project will be on the leading edge of technology available at the university,” Holger said. “I can see this directly impacting virtually all students and faculty in the College of Engineering. It’ll be hard [for engineering students] not to have had a class in the facility before graduation.”

After the completion of Phase I next year, contractors expect to take a break while offices are moved out of buildings scheduled for demolition and into Howe Hall. The second phase of the project will be located where the Engineering Annex, the Engineering Research Institute and Exhibition Hall now stand.

Phase II of the project is scheduled for completion in 2001.

The $61 million ETRC complex is being jointly funded by the state of Iowa and other sources.

“Only half of this project is being funded by the state,” Holger said. “The rest of the money is coming primarily from alums wishing to support undergraduate education and corporations hoping to extend the quality of education here at Iowa State.”

The facility already has played a role in educating students, however.

“One of the contractors, the Weitz Company, donated a trailer to be used each semester to impact construction engineering students in the construction process,” Holger said.

The trailer, which contains computer stations and the blueprints for Howe Hall, has been used each semester since the project was started.

One ISU student said he is impressed by the project.

“I think that this endeavor really shows that Iowa State is focused on improving undergrad engineering education,” said Kevin Youngman, sophomore in computer engineering.

“It really reflects on the students who go to Iowa State, too, when the alumni are willing to donate so much money to the project,” he said.

“This facility really will have a direct benefit on all engineering students at Iowa State,” Holger said.

Progress on Howe Hall also is being monitored by a camera with a direct feed to the College of Engineering home page.

“We’re getting far enough in the project now, though, that it’s less interesting to watch,” Holger said. “In another month or so, the exterior will be done and the workers will be moving inside.”