Iowa State’s College of Family and Consumer Sciences will break ground this Friday to begin construction on the Palmer Human Development and Family Studies Building.

Dean Beverly Crabtree said the new Palmer Building addresses critical space needs for the department by consolidating programs located in five different spots across campus.

“This is the first time the Child Development Lab has had a facility built specifically for them,” she said. In addition to the Child Development Lab, the new Palmer Building will offer a Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic, an Infant/Toddler Lab and a Financial Counseling Clinic.

The Palmer Building will not provide any new services for the university. The building was constructed to allow the current department programs to be housed together in one central location, Crabtree said.

The CFCS attempted to secure funding for the Palmer project from the state, Crabtree said. When efforts failed, however, it turned to university alumni and friends for private funding, she said.

The university’s efforts succeeded, with nearly 87 percent of the building’s cost raised through private donations.

“We’re thrilled with the support of alumni and friends who’ve given tremendously to this building,” Crabtree said. She added that nearly 1,500 alumni and friends of the College of Family and Consumer Sciences donated anywhere from $5 all the way up to $1.1 million.

Barbara and James Palmer, both Iowa State alumni, gave the $1.1 million gift to the building, Crabtree said. Barbara graduated from the College of Family and Consumer Sciences and her husband, James, graduated from Iowa State’s engineering program. As a result of their continued support for the project, the building will now bear their name.

Ground breaking ceremonies for the new Palmer Building will be held this Friday at 4 p.m., east of MacKay Hall.