The relocation of several campus departments into a new building will create more core campus space for student advising, math learning laboratories and campus parking for students and visitors.

On Wednesday, Sept. 18, the state Board of Regents approved revisions on a plan to build the Library Storage Building/Administrative Services Facilities Office Building in the West Pammel Court area.

The building will cost more than $6 million.

The new facility will house administrative data processing, Extension communications, purchasing and business offices.

“What started the project was a drive to improve undergraduate student service programs,” said Warren Madden, Iowa State University vice-president of business and finance.

“The main purpose of the move is to free up space on campus to provide more student services,” he said.

Future plans include creating a place for “one-stop” student services, Madden said. While plans are still in progress, the offices of finance, billing, traffic, parking as well as student advising and counseling may be combined on the first floor of Beardshear Hall.

Relocating departments to the building will also support instructional and research programs in priority areas of the university. For example, the void left when Administrative Data Processing vacates Pearson Hall will be filled by a new math learning laboratory for students in lower-level math courses.

The university hopes the expansion of the math learning labs will improve math skills, which are proven to be critical in student retention. Space in Atanasoff Hall, currently occupied by administration data processing, will be vacated to permit statistics and computer science more room for research.

“A second benefit [of the project] is that it will improve administrative opportunity by consolidating their services into one building,” Madden said. The relocation will unite several departments currently located in different buildings and create space for department development.

“Now we’ll be able to do our job more cohesively. Now we’re kind of spread out,” said Wayne Ostendorf, director of administration data processing, about the move from Pearson Hall.

ADP has occupied its office in Pearson since 1962. “Now our needs are quite different. We hope to take advantage of more up-to-date equipment,” Ostendorf said. The new building, being built for 50-60 percent of the cost of a campus classroom building, will not disturb Pammel Grocery or the laundry facilities.

“Parking improvements are a third benefit,” Madden said. Nearly 160 parking spaces on or near campus will be vacated when employees move into the new building. These spaces will be available to students and visitors.

“We are continuously trying to make campus more accessible to students who need to come and go,” Madden said.