The Scheman Building, part of the Iowa State Center complex, is in the midst of a partial renovation, expected to be complete in February. Built in 1975, Scheman hosts a plethora of university and athletics department events.
According to Chris Jorgensen, senior associate athletics director for operations, the scope of the renovation covers the ground floor lobby and the first floor. New flooring and updated bathrooms were the main focus areas on the ground level. The first floor is receiving updates to the auditorium, among other modernizations.
“It’s a 50-year-old building, badly in need of a remodel, badly in need of modernization,” Jorgensen said. “We’ve taken the opportunity, we believe, to make it a more appealing building to the users.”
The $12 million project is being funded by the athletics department “on the front end,” according to Jorgensen. Eventual CyTown revenues are believed to pay for the renovation, among others, occurring within the Iowa State Center.
While the building is managed by athletics, much of its use comes through general university events, meaning the renovation will benefit many programs and departments.
“We use it for a handful of athletics events–for donors, pre-games, entertainment spaces–but largely, 300 out of the 365 days a year, it’s used for other events for the university,” Jorgensen said.
The brunt of the renovation, situated on the first floor, includes an open gathering space, a large bar and food service area, as well as a remodeled auditorium.
The gathering space will now feature a ribbon of video boards encircling the room.
“They can have messaging for the events with directions,” Jorgensen said. “If we host a pre-game event for athletics we might put some other games going on up there, or highlights.”
The remodeled auditorium space, which was previously tiered seating, has now been “flattened off,” allowing it to host more types of events than before while still being able to seat up to 300 people for a speaking event, according to Jorgensen.
“We now can actually set up career fair booths in here,” Jorgensen said. “The events that used the auditorium before can still use it as an auditorium space… and then for the events that still need a 500-seat theater-style auditorium, we still have the Fisher Theater, which is right next door.”
Jorgensen cited the auditorium remodel as the most significant part of the project, allowing more flexibility within the space.
Further accommodation and flexibility was created with an additional food and beverage station behind a partition wall, allowing two events to be hosted on the first floor at one time.
According to Inside Iowa State, the project also features upgraded building infrastructure. This includes mechanical and electrical systems, as well as “flooring, lighting, ceiling speakers and lots of video boards and Cyclone branding.”
The Scheman Building has not seen any major renovations throughout its 50 years, meaning the update will enhance the space’s value as an asset for the university and community, according to Jorgensen.
“We’re bringing in a lot of prospective out-of-state students that before were looking at a building that was 50 years old,” Jorgensen said. “Now we’ve modernized it and got half the building looking more modern, and hope to do the other half sometime down the road.”
Brian Honnold, assistant athletics director and Scheman Building Supervisor, outlined how the project will benefit both the athletics department and Iowa State community.
“From an Athletics standpoint, we’re able to enhance the gameday experience by providing a club area for ticket holders to enjoy,” Honnold stated in an email to the Daily. “[The auditorium] also gives us additional flat space to rent out for both internal and external groups.”
According to both Honnold and Jorgensen, the main focus looking ahead for the athletics department is CYTown.
“That’s really where a lot of our energies are focused on in the coming years,” Jorgensen said. “The goal is eventually to generate revenues for the university to do additional renovations within the Iowa State Center to remain attractive and competitive within the central Iowa marketplace for getting events, getting performing arts and for all the people that deserve this area.”
Honnold stated that if anyone is interested in observing or renting the Scheman spaces once completed, they should contact him.
