feasibility study...the memorial union feasibility study followed a process of discovery,...

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Iowa State University Memorial Union

FEASIBILITY STUDY SPRING 2015

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SPECIAL THANKS are given to the study’s Core Team members whose understanding of the building’s functional needs,

operational demands and dedication to serve the students and customers provided unequalled insight into the Memorial Union. The Core Team members dedicated much time to provide regular

feedback and insight throughout the study process and will continue to be the ambassadors of the Union’s mission and values.

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INDEX

01 PARTICIPANTS 4 A Collective Group of Thoughts and Experiences

02 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6 Thoughts and Findings

03 OVERVIEW 8 Changing Needs

04 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 10 How We Measure Success

05 BUILDING USE 12 Current Space Allocation

06 BUILDING DATA 20 Facilities and Infrastructure

07 DISCOVERY 22 Data Collection

08 STRATEGY 30 Sectional Diagram

09 RECOMMENDATIONS 32 Plan and Space Analysis

10 IMPLEMENTATION 46 Phasing and Cost Projections

11 APPENDIX 52 Supplemental Information

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MEMORIAL UNION ADMINISTRATION AND GOVERNANCE

Richard Reynolds, DirectorCorey Williamson, Associate DirectorMemorial Union Board of Directors

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION

Martino Harmon, Associate Vice President Student AffairsEllen Rasmussen, Associate Vice President, Senior Vice President & Provost

FACILITIES PLANNING AND

MANAGEMENT

Daniel Sloan, University ArchitectMargie Tabor, University Planner

STUDENT GROUPS AND

ORGANIZATIONS

Student GovernmentGraduate and Professional Student SenateGreek Governing CouncilsInternational Student CouncilLGBTAAStudent Activities CenterStudent Union BoardMemorial Union Student Building Staff

MEMORIAL UNION STAFF

AND STAKE HOLDERS

Building ManagersBusiness ServicesCommunications, Marketing and Graphic DesignEvent Management OfficeFacilities and Custodial ServicesGeneral ServicesISU Dining-CateringISU Dining-RetailHotel Memorial UnionMechanical DepartmentMulticultural CenterMU Market and CafeUndergroundWorkspaceUniversity OfficesCampus OrganizationsCopy CenterGreek AffairsInternational Student and ScholarsNew Student ProgramsSoults Family Visitor CenterStudent Legal ServicesStudy Abroad CenterUniversity Book StoreUniversity Lectures OfficeU.S. Postal Station

INVISION ARCHITECTURE

Mark Nevenhoven, Principal in ChargeMichael Dean, Associate ArchitectKerry Weig, Architect

01 PARTICIPANTS A COLLECTIVE GROUP OF THOUGHTS AND EXPERIENCES

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WE COME TO COLLEGE NOT ALONE

TO PREPARE TO MAKE A LIVING, BUT

LEARN TO LIVE A LIFE.

– M.J. RIGGS, FIRST PRESIDENT,

MU BOARD

CORE TEAM MEMBERS

Richard Reynolds, DirectorCorey Williamson, Associate DirectorGeorge Micalone, Assistant Director & Student ActivitiesRita Phillips, Manager Iowa State University Book StoreStephanie Salasek, Associate Director, Office of AdmissionsKevin Schalinske, President of Faculty SenateNancy Keller, Past Director, ISU Dining ServicesKristi Patel, Assistant Director for Retail Services, Campus Dining ServicesJeffrey Miller, Production, Campus Dining Services

Anthony Behnke, Student GovernmentDan Breitbarth, Student Government Robert Bosselman, Memorial Union Board of DirectorsMartino Harmon, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Ellen Rasmussen, Associate Vice President, Senior Vice President & Provost Robert Bosselman, Memorial Union Board of DirectorsDan Sloan, University ArchitectMargie Tabor, University Planner

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02 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THOUGHTS AND FINDINGS

Iowa State University Memorial Union has grown from a student-funded memorial in 1928 to the University’s student-centered campus hub of today. Throughout the years, the building has seen numerous additions to adapt to new needs and uses. Art exhibits in the 1930’s were held in the Great Hall; now they hang in the Gallery and Pioneer Room and change monthly. Musical performances, such as the great Duke Ellington, once filled the ballrooms; today, music echoes against the walls of the Maintenance Shop, a space once home to the Union’s maintenance staff. M.J. Riggs, the first Union Board President, once wrote “…we come to college not alone to prepare to make a living, but to learn to live a life.”

The Memorial Union is the “Life-learning Classroom” of campus. It is a place for students to come to create, discover, interact, collaborate and celebrate. Students come to the Memorial Union to learn about the parts of life that cannot be taught in classrooms. It is the one building on campus that truly serves a student throughout their entire education-from their first visit to campus to graduation breakfast. The service continues as alumni come to the Memorial Union to celebrate the tradition of Iowa State University.

To support an active and evolving experience, the Memorial Union is in need of a comprehensive assessment to understand the potential for flexibility, future growth and to “right size” the space needs of the current services provided. The intent of this study is to assess these needs, collect supporting data, and develop an obtainable plan to provide more efficient space usage, functional adjacencies and wayfinding improvements throughout the building.

PROCESS OVERVIEW

The Memorial Union Feasibility Study followed a process of discovery, strategizing and implementation. This process included staff and tenant evaluation interviews, student online surveys

and interviews, an open forum charrette with staff and tenants, a student charrette testing previous findings and ideas, floor plan exploration of multiple options, refinement, and finally an imple-mentation strategy.

DISCOVERY OVERVIEW

The discovery process revealed the following: • Most tenant spaces are undersized to meet the current

student demand • Additional space requests from stakeholders were modest

and stayed to the focus of the study • The hotel is under-utilized; maintaining a partial hotel

component would be difficult operationally• Dining options are insufficient for current student needs• Seating for dining is significantly undersized• Student organization growth has increased the need for

additional space• Meeting rooms for 75–125 people are highest in demand

and are in short supply• Significant wayfinding issues are noted throughout the

building, but most notably on the third floor

Following the discovery process, a preliminary space analysis was completed. The results of the analysis found that space requests were approximately equivalent to the space available for renovation, with the exception of significant additions of meeting rooms, an auditorium, and an expanded catering kitchen. The true test of available space would come in the exploration of fitting spaces into realigned floor levels and appropriate adjacencies.

The recommendations of this report represent a holistic reorganization of the Memorial Union and are based on an assessment of the entire Memorial Union’s current utilization and space available.

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SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS

The recommended floor plan diagrams were crafted with the following priorities in mind:• Student Experience• Seating for Dining• Student Organization and Student

Activities Space• Right-size existing stakeholder spaces• Dining expansion• Space for additional/future departments

The summary of recommendations includes suggestions for the repurposing of spaces and creation of surge space for future phases. The first recommended phase is the reutilization of the hotel floors for departmental relocation. Phase two includes the relocation of student leasdership to the Third Floor to provide a consolidated location and collaboration space. This move provides surge space on the First Floor to allow the expansion of dining seating. This third phase also allows for the minmizing and relocation of the student recreation activities to the first floor and creates a surge space on the Ground Floor.

The fourth proposed phase includes the expansion of the Admission’s Visitor’s Center, new departmental offices, additional dining seating, restrooms, and the relocation of the WorkSpace. This phase also includes the expansion of the storage for the University Book Store and relocation of the maintenance workshop and offices. Finally, a fifth phase provides additional meeting rooms and study spaces on the Second Floor, opens views through the Colonel Pride Lounge to central campus and adds a larger freight elevator between the Ground through Third Floors. All recommendations are meant to be flexible, and provide a plan that can be adapted to fit future needs.

THERE ARE MANY NEWER AND LARGER COLLEGE

UNIONS IN THE NATION, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM

ARE AS ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT AND

FAITHFUL TO THEIR ORIGINAL MISSION AS THE

MEMORIAL UNION.”

– RICHARD REYNOLDS, MEMORIAL UNION DIRECTOR

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PROJECT WEBSITE

Study materials are posted on the Memorial Union website:

http://www.mu.iastate.edu/en/mu_feasibil-ity_study/

03 OVERVIEW CHANGING NEEDS

The Memorial Union serves as a community center of Iowa State University and provides a welcome, open door to an ever-growing number of students, faculty, staff, alumni and guests. In an effort to evaluate and improve the student campus experience, Iowa State has engaged invision Architecture to assess the usage of space within the Memorial Union.

This study will provide a comprehensive review of re-purposing the hotel space in the Memorial Union, expanding dining seating, review opportunities for Student Organization and Student Activities collaboration and growth, as well as evaluate existing spaces and functions on all floors. It is the intent that the results of the study will provide a clear understanding of general building use, address partnerships, and provide recommendations to better utilize existing space within the Memorial Union.

CORE VALUES AND MISSION

The Mission of the Iowa State University Memorial Union is:• to nurture common ground,• enrich and sustain individual lives,• and remember.

They believe:• That the Memorial Union is a student-centered,

full partner in the educational process

• That building community builds loyalty and social responsibility

• That programs and facilities are a unifying force• That ideas and experiences are powerful

ingredients in holistic development• That participatory decision-making builds world

citizens and leaders• That service and convenience provides essential

support to individuals reaching for long-term goals

• That remembrance of alumni and our service personnel is an active duty

The Memorial Union values:• Participation, exploration, experience, service,

volunteerism• Social interaction, collaboration, partnerships,

inclusiveness, unity• Creativity, discovery, inventiveness, active risk-

taking and problem solving• Celebration, kindness, friendship, romance• Comfort, security, heritage, tradition, memories,

stories• Proudfoot’s classic architectural design

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HISTORY OF THE MU

The Memorial Union has undergone significant renovations and acquired many additions since it opened its doors in 1928. Some significant milestones:• 1928 open–4000 students• 1939-–South Addition-South

Ballroom, Commons Expansion• 1950–53 NW Addition: Pride Lounge,

Main Lounge, Gallery, offices• 1964–65 NE Addition: Campanile

Room, Pioneer Room, meeting rooms• 1977–Southeast addition-Location of

current Multicultural Center, ISSO and Study Abroad Offices

• 2008–South Expansion-Book Store, Soults Family Visitor’s Center

In all, there have been 11 additions to the Memorial Union over the years and countless renovations to adapt to modern needs.

PAST STUDIES

The last significant master plan for the Memorial Union was completed in 2002. The first of three phases identified by this study was completed in 2008, with a total project cost of approximately $24 million. Work included the expansion

and renovation of the University Book Store, ballroom, dining, and wayfinding improvements as well as the construction of the Soults Family Visitor’s Center, the Multicultural Center, the Durham Great Hall rehabilitation and infrastructure upgrades such as increased sprinkler coverage in the building. These past architectural studies have indicated the need for a holistic review of space and services provided at the Memorial Union, and identified three critical needs:• Improved wayfinding• Increase in space• Facility upgrades-finishes,

technology, amenities, etc. Spaces recently studied by the MU have been included in the space needs summary of this report as continued needs. Supplemental information on the relative studies can be found in the appendix.

UNIVERSITY GROWTH

Since the completion of the last significant planning study for the building, student population has increased from just over 25,000 students to well over 34,000. That is an increase of over 38%. Along

with this growth has been a surge of student organizations, Greek life, and activities needing support space.

CHANGING NEEDS

Life in the Union has adapted and changed over the years as lifestyles, technology and space expectations from the student population have changed. The intent of this study is to take a holistic view of the Memorial Union to determine what opportunities are available to meet the demands of these changes, and to provide a planning tool for future renovations and/or additions to the building.

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38% STUDENT POPULATION GROWTH SINCE LAST SIGNIFICANT PLANNING STUDY (2002)

860%STUDENT POPULATION GROWTH SINCE MEMORIAL UNION OPENED IN 1928.

25%STUDENT ORGANIZATION GROWTH SINCE LAST SIGNIFICANT ADDITION TO BUILDING (2008)

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04 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES HOW WE MEASURE SUCCESS

The following goals and objectives were provided by Memorial Union Administration to provide the guidelines of how to measure success in Feasibility Study.

FEASIBILITY STUDY GOALS

• Determining the best potential use for the hotel rooms.

• Investigate repurposing the space vacated to improve tenant/user spaces, way-finding, and the student experience in this building.

OBJECTIVES

• Repurpose hotel room floor with the best function and fit.

• Expand dining seating.• Improve and expand student organization

and student activity areas.

STUDY GUIDELINES

• Stay within existing wall boundaries.• Limited renovation to recently updated spaces.• Implementation plan must be achievable under

reasonable timeframes and budgets.

INVESTIGATION POINTS

Repurpose Hotel Floors• Review all potential options: hotel, office,

meeting room, and others• Destination spaces

Expand Dining Seating• 200 Seats minimum quantity to meet current need• Current function and retail opportunities

Improve and Expand Student Organization and Student Activity Areas• Address growth in student organizations• Desire for shared office space for all

organizations and student groups• Shared office and collaboration space• Improve student life and quality of workspace

FUTURE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES

• Potential additions at northeast and south sides of the building

• 1,000 seat auditorium

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Students participating in a space adjacency exercise.

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05 BUILDING USE CURRENT SPACE ALLOCATION

The Memorial Union receives over 2,000,000 visitors each year and is home to more than 30 services for the University, the Student Body, and campus visitors.

SERVICES AVAILABLE IN THE MEMORIAL UNION

Browsing Library & ChapelCampus Organizations AccountingCateringCopy CenterDining ServicesEvent ServicesGold Star HallStudent GovernmentGraduate and Professional Student SenateGreek AffairsHotelInformation CenterInternational Students & ScholarsLeadership and Service ProgramsLectures ProgramMaintenance ShopMulticultural CenterNew Student ProgramsParkingPost OfficePride Veterans’ LoungeRecreation CenterSoults Family Visitor Center Study Abroad Center Student Activities CenterStudent Legal ServiceStudent Organization SpaceStudent ServicesStudent Union BoardStudy and Lounge SpaceTicket OfficeTransportation ServicesUniversity Book StoreVeterans’ CenterVideo PhoneWorkspace

CURRENT BUILDING USE

As a classically-designed Beaux Arts building, the Memorial Union is organized along two strong axis through each of the major coordinates-north/south through Gold Star Hall and east/west through the primary historic corridors on the First through Sixth Floors. This historic planning concept provided built-in wayfinding strategies and a strong circulation backbone for the many services the building inherently would provide.

Over time, eleven additions and countless renovations occurred. During these modifications to the Memorial Union, building services were plugged into available space to maximize use of the dollars for each project. Building users and building occupants have made the most of the space available, but most would agree that strategic reorganization would realize distinct benefits in wayfinding, space utilization and functional relationships between services.

A holistic review of the building provided under this study reveals like services displaced from each other, challenges for wayfinding and inefficiencies in space utilization. The following diagrams illustrate the current utilization in the building.

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SIXTH FLOOR

• Hotel suites• Storage• Elevator Service Equipment

KEY

Building Support/Service

Departments

Public Gathering Spaces

Meeting Space

Hotel

Restrooms

Guest Rooms

Storage

Elevator Equipment

Housekeeping

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FIFTH FLOOR

• Hotel rooms• Housekeeping

KEY


Departments


Meeting Space

Hotel

Restrooms

Housekeeping

Guest Rooms

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FOURTH FLOOR

• Hotel rooms• Laundry• Housekeeping

KEY


Departments


Meeting Space

Hotel

Restrooms

Housekeeping/Laundry-

Guest Rooms

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“THIRD FLOOR

• Administrative Offices• Meeting Rooms• ISSO• Study Abroad

KEY


Departments


Meeting Space

Hotel

Restrooms

Meeting Rooms

Office

Pioneer Room

Administrative Offices-Director’sSuite

Custodial Officesand Storage

International Studentsand Scholars (ISSO)

Study Abroad

EventManagement

Offices

AdministrativeOffices-Business

Veteran’s Center

Gallery

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SECOND FLOOR

• Meeting Rooms• Ballrooms• Hotel Desk• Administrative Offices• Lounges• Catering Kitchen

KEY


Departments


Meeting Space

Hotel

Restrooms

Durham Great Hall

South Ballroom

Sun Room

New StudentPrograms

Col. Pride Veteran’s Lounge

Campanile Room

West Lounge

Dining Catering Kitchen

Multicultural Center

Cardinal Room

Meeting Rooms

MainLounge

Hotel/Information Desk

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FIRST FLOOR

• Student Organizations• Student Activities• MU Marketing Offices• Dining-Retail• Food Court• Dining-Production Kitchen• Commons• University Book Store

KEY


Departments


Meeting Space

Hotel

Restrooms

Student Office Space-East

Student Office Space-West

Chapel and Browsing Library

Dining-Retail &Food Court

University Book Store

Trophy Tavern-Commons

Exterior Terraces

MU Market and Cafe

MU Marketing Office

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GROUND FLOOR

• Work Space• M-Shop• Greek Affairs• Underground• Soults Family Visitor Center• UBS Administrative Offices• UBS Storage• Maintenance Offices• Dock• Storage

KEY


Departments


Meeting Space

Hotel

Restrooms

M-ShopStudent Leadership-Storage

WorkSpace

UBS Storage

Maintenace Offices and Workshop

Soults Family Visitor Center

UBS-Administrative

Offices

Cy Bowl and Billiards/Student Recreation Center

Unexcavated

Dock

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06 BUILDING DATA FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE

STAKEHOLDER SATISFACTION SURVEY

In June 2014, thirty-six building stakeholders participated in a facility services survey conducted by MU Administration to understand the perceptions of the building from a stakeholder’s perspective, to discuss appearance and services, to review custodial care and maintenance and to provide an open venue for suggestions for building improvement. Findings of the Satisfaction Survey include:

Doing Well• Visual appearance of the building• Landscaping• Lighting• Parking facilities• Overall building condition

Opportunities for improvement• Signage within MU• Elevator maintenance

Suggestions provided relevant to this study• Signage: Additional signage, interactive stations-more ready

access to building maps, directional signage to destination locations, more signage for Student Activities Center and MU Department offices that get more outside traffic

• Beautification: Conversation seating on terrace, adding • green space• Mechanical: Temperature control, elevator maintenance,

general maintenance

This survey provides insight that the existing facilities are adequately maintained, functional, and meeting current needs, but that wayfinding and infrastructure could be improved in the building.

INFRASTRUCTURE

An additional assessment was completed by the ISES Corporation in the spring of 2015 on the condition of building infrastructure: plumbing, heating, cooling, sprinklers, elevators, etc. The building received a designation of “Fair”, noting the following concerns needing to be addressed in the next 10 years:• ADA compliance• Original HVAC equipment: Steam-reduction station; air

handlers; chilled water pump; fan coil units in Fourth-Sixth Floors; vent illation fans; exhaust equipment

• Dated electrical equipment: Transformers; motor control center; switchboards; devices; lighting fixtures

• Dated Plumbing materials and equipment: Piping; back-flow preventors; fixtures

• Elevators: Elevators 1, 5, 8 and 9-modernization; cab deficiencies; controllers; drive machines

The following additional notes were obtained from staff interviews under this study related to the building infrastructure:

• Elevators 1 & 2: Currently under regular service; Elevators will need upgrading as function changes on Fourth–Sixth Floors and more regular traffic is using these floors.

• Elevator 5: It is desired that Elevator 5 be updated to be a true freight elevator. Location and floors served were reviewed and discussed under this study.

ISES estimates recommended infrastructure and deferred maintenance costs at $45 million in project costs. As costs are developed for this study, dollars will be associated to address some, but not all of these identified concerns. Future detailed projects budgets should be adjusted to include required deferred maintenance costs.

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475,262 // Square feet of building space

7 // Floors

11 // Number of additions

2,000,000 // Visits per year

52,877 // Meeting room reserved hours per year

35,000 // Number of visits to Soults Family Visitor’s Center

850 // Current student organizations on campus

26,618 // Dining transactions per week

771 // University Book Store transactions per week

34,732 // Current student enrollment

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07 DISCOVERY DATA COLLECTION

STAKEHOLDER SATISFACTION SURVEY

A primary objective of the Memorial Union Administration was to provide a method to gather information from a variety of stakeholders during this study. To achieve this, a specific strategy was implemented with three phases—Discovery, Strategy, and Implementation.

DISCOVERY

The early information-gathering phase was Discovery. Discovery included on-line questionnaires, interviews, presentations and charrettes to gather significant information about needs and concerns prior to commencement of design solutions.

STRATEGY

The planning phase included the development of a space analysis document, space allocation diagrams, and organizational strategies to guide design.

IMPLEMENTATION

The implementation phase included gathering all of the information from the Discovery and Planning Phases into specific design strategies that could be tested against the space needs. Cost opinions and potential phasing diagrams were developed along with conceptual plan diagrams.

DISCOVERY PHASE

The discovery phase included:• Student Worker presentation and interactive discussion with

100+ Memorial Union student workers: lead in to on-line student survey

• Student Survey: 300+ student responses to an online survey about the needs and desires for the Memorial Union

• Student Charrette: planning and programming exercises with a variety of Student Government, student organizations, and other student leaders on campus-over 30 students attended

• MU Board Conversation: interactive conversation with MU board on the needs and desires for the future of the Memorial Union

• Core Team/Building Stakeholder Charrette: planning and programming exercises with building tenants, offices, and other key stakeholders—over 60 people attended

Discovery conversations were invaluable in gathering informa-tion of the people who use the building day in and day out, as well as students, faculty, board members, and other administra-tive representatives from campus. In all, over 550 people were involved in the Discovery Phase of the project, providing a very thorough background for needs and desired amenities.

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STUDENT WORKER PRESENTATION

& STUDENT SURVEY The student worker presentation and student survey were centered around the following set of core questions:• How often do you visit the MU in a typical week?• What services draw you to the MU?• What services did you not know existed at the MU?• Can you easily find the services within the MU?• What is your favorite location in the MU?• Are there areas that are not well known within the MU that everyone

should know about?• Rank your five priorities of spaces you would like to see added to the MU.• List features (if any) you have seen at Student Unions on other campuses

that you would like to see in the MU.• Share any other comments you have or hear form students regarding the MU.

THEMES FROM STUDENT SURVEY

• More dining options desired• More seating for dining is required• Increased flexibility and better organization of space would improve use

and function of the building• Areas of student ownership-lounge, work areas are desired• Private study areas are desired• Auditorium is desired for large events, speakers, movies• Fine dining/restaurant would be a nice option• Improve way-finding• Manage crowding in building

The full range of write-in responses open questions is included in the Appendix.

SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED:

58% number of students who visit the Memorial Union more than twice a week other than for work

TOP SERVICE DRAWS TO THE MEMORIAL UNION:

University Book Store, MU Market & Cafe, Dining, Commons, Lounge & Study Areas

UNFAMILIAR SERVICES/AMENITIES

Copy Center, Soults Family Visitor Center, Browsing Library, Terraces, Post Office, Student Resource Areas, Multicultural Center

THE MOST DIFFICULT TO FIND SPACES

WorkSpace, ISSO, Study Abroad, Copy Center

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To gain additional perspective on the needs of the Memorial Union, invision met with the Memorial Union Board in September, 2014. The MU Board is comprised of students, administrators and alumni. The group was asked four questions. Key responses are noted.

WHAT DOES THE MEMORIAL UNION MEAN TO STUDENTS?

• Gathering place• Alumni focal point• Community center for the University• Always accessible• Central location on campus• Place to let your hair down• Space for students to develop outside

of the classroom as leader and teammates

• Collaboration opportunities• Leadership opportunities• Everyone has a different story of how

they use the Union

WHAT SERVICES ARE MOST USED IN THE MEMORIAL UNION?

• Dining• Hotel• Book Store• Student recruitment• Special events• Alumni retail • Student Office Space• Parking ramp

WHAT SERVICES SHOULD BE PROVIDED IN THE MEMORIAL UNION?

• Office space• Printing• Student services• Meeting rooms• Expanded student office space• Collaboration space• Auditorium• Additional meeting rooms• Social spaces• Student answer center

MEMORIAL UNION BOARD INTERVIEW

TENANT AND STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS

Inverviews with key tenants and stakeholders were conducted to understand current and future needs along with other recommendations for the building.

DEPARTMENT NEEDS

Overwhelmingly, tenant and stakeholders are feeling the press of a growing stduent population, noting that the growth has affected nearly everyone. The result is a request for more space. Additional spaces requests include offices, flexible work areas, meeting rooms, and adequate storage areas.

LOCATIONS

Most tenants and stakeholders interviews are happy with their current locations and do not have a strong desire to move to another location in the building, although see the opportunities that arise from making a change. Departments feel the MU is the right location for their services.

Way finding is an issue for most depart-ments.

RECOMMENDATIONSTenants and stakeholders would like to see updated seating areas throughout the Memorial Union. The inclusion

of collaboration space and a theater/auditorium was offered by 16 of the 18 groups interviewed.

A larger seating area for food court guests, a freight elevator connecting all floors, improved way finding, a central employee lounge and a more “Iowa Statey” feelwere all provided as recommendations for consideration.

WHAT IS WORKING WELL?

There was no question from this group on what is working well-staff, the level of service provided, and the continued focus on students and student life.

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STAKEHOLDER CHARRETTE

Following the development of the space needs analysis, a series of charrettes and presentations to students, core team members, and stakeholders were conducted to gather thoughts, share data collected, and to test outcomes.

The stakeholder charrette was composed of four visualization exercises in which stakeholders were asked to step outside of their current way of thinking to visualize what qualities and relationships would comprise the ideal Memorial Union at Iowa State University.

The first exercise was visual listening in which multiple boards of photos were displayed and students were provided with stickers to designate which images were most and least appealing to them in reference to the Memorial Union. An additional board of words was displayed and rated by the students in a similar manner with stickers. Short discussions followed on the reason for selections with the most stickers for both likes and dislikes.

The next two exercises provided stakeholders with the opportunity to re-organize the Memorial Union tenants, offices, meeting rooms, and other services through an adjacency and stacking activity. In each exercise, all of the existing tenant, office, meeting room and other service spaces were provided in loose form cut-outs to stakeholders. In small groups, they were challenged to think about how they would put the pieces back together, first in ideal adjacencies in the building with no limits on square footage available on each level, and then again with proportionally-sized pieces to fit in a vertical stacking diagram representing floor plates.

VISUAL LISTENING

Top “likes”• Light, bright• Green space• Open space• Respect history

of building• Variety of seating

options (booths, open/flexible seating, etc.)

Top “dislikes”• Ultra-modern

installations• Corporate or care

center feel• Non-functional

space• Super graphics• Crowded terrace• Limited use

spaces

WORD ASSOCIATION

Top “likes”• Gathering• Collaborative• Memorable• Functional• Historical• Accessible

Top “dislikes”• Subdued• Hierarchical• Conservative• Living Room• Hip

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Similar to the stakeholder session, the student charrette provided an opportunity to provide input on aesthetic desires, space adjacencies, organization and general comments through Visual Listening, Word Association, Space Adjacency Diagramming and Stacking Diagrams.

Many responses were similar to the stakeholder group. The top responses are provided at the right.

STUDENT CHARRETTE

VISUAL LISTENING

Top “likes”• Light, bright• Green space• Natural materials• Respect history

of building• Variety of seating

options (booths, open/flexible seating, etc.)

• Active terrace/lake

Top “dislikes”• Ultra-modern

installations• Corporate or care

center feel• Non-functional

space• Large wall

graphics• Crowded terrace

WORD ASSOCIATION

Top “likes”• Accessible• Engaging• Functional• Historical• Useful• Memorable• Tradition

Top “dislikes”:• Conservative• Contemporary• Quiet• Showplace• Similar• Subdued• Hierarchical• Living Room

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While tackling the stacking and adjacency diagrams, the students quickly discovered the many challenges of the physical building characteristics and layout, and offered insight into their desires and the challenges they found in these exercises. Matrices of the results are provided in the Appendix.

ADJACENCY DIAGRAM

• 30%+ desired the hotel rooms to remain in the building

• 80%+ wanted additional dining options such as a sit-down dining venue or additional dining retail

• All groups felt that administrative offices would work on the Fifth or Sixth Floors

• All groups felt that the Veteran’s Center should be located adjacent to Gold Star Hall

• All groups felt that Student Organizations, Student Activities, SUB and other student groups could move from their current location, but

needed to be located together• All groups indicated additional dining

seating as a priority on Ground and First Floor

• 80%+ groups felt that the Cy Bowl and Billiards Student Recreation Center needed re-thought-either relocated, new entertainment options or reduced in size

STACKING DIAGRAM:

• 15%+ of students felt that the hotel rooms should remain where they are

• All groups felt that new food venues should be on Ground or First Floors

• 65%+ of groups felt that at least some portion of Administrative offices should remain on Third Floor

• 80%+ of groups placed Student Organizations, Student Activities, SUB and other student groups on Third Floor

• 80%+ of groups placed additional dining seating on First Floor

• 80%+ of groups kept some portion of the Cy Bowl and Billiards Student Recreation Center on Ground Floor

• Added program spaces: Help Desk, Computer Docking/Print Stations, Convenience Store, Meeting Rooms, Expanded Student Office Space

STUDENT CHARRETTE

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To determine a base line for a space needs analysis, INVISION collected information from the student survey and the MU board comments, and then met with each of the core tenants, units and service groups who currently reside in the Memorial Union.

EACH GROUP WAS ASKED

• to think about their existing space and how it met their current needs

• identify their future (next 5-10 years) programmatic space needs

• consider what additional services they could provide if they had space to do so

Responses yielded a conservative group of requests for additional space needs. The group as a whole indicated that they could continue to “make-do” with their current space. The majority of stakeholders interviewed were happy with their current location and were willing to compromise to some degree on the quantity and quality of space to ensure they would be able to remain in the Memorial Union. Functions located elsewhere that contribute and support students, both pre-collegiate and those currently enrolled, were also included in the data gathering and overall space analysis.Based on the information collected from these interviews, and coupled with the survey responses, a preliminary space summary was developed to serve as the basis for space planning. Programmatic space needs for each group were quantified, functional adjacencies among groups in the building were identified, and the criticality of student and visitor access determined. This informed and facilitated testing various options for the potential reallocation and repurposing of space.

Existing units, services and activities occupy approximately 157,000 square feet in the building; a total of over 250,000 square feet was requested through the data gathering phase.

Through the study process, it was determined that an additional 30,000 net square feet could be made available by:• Repurposing the hotel floors (4-6)• Repurposing the hotel front desk and office• Reducing and reallocating the amount of space

currently utilized by the Cy Bowl and Billiards Student Recreation Center

With this additional space, the total space available for reallocation and repurposing in about 187,000 square feet.

The study identified specific program areas that could not be accommodated within the existing building footprint; in some cases this was due to the quantity of additional program area requested, the physical attributes of the space, needed infrastructure, or the need to be located adjacent to existing functionally compatible space. In addition, the configuration of existing walls, support structure, and circulation patterns could not always be adapted to accommodate some of the large, functional areas identified. These requests totaled over 50,000 square feet. Spaces that cannot be accommodated in the existing building footprint include a 1,000 seat auditorium, a catering kitchen and several large meeting spaces.

SPACE NEEDS ANALYSIS

29

SPACE NEEDS ANALYSIS—NEEDS SUMMARY

GROUP CURRENT SF TOTAL REQUESTED SF

Administration 5.199 5,949

Dining-Catering* 4,055 5,255

Dining-Retail* 25,328 34,600

Greek Affairs 2,185 3,110

ISSO 3,200 3,600

ISU Printing Copy Center 1,100 1,350

Lounges 4,565 4,565

Meeting Rooms* 32,058 80,738

M-Shop 2,500 2,950

MU Operations 2,508 4,108

Multicultural Center 3,655 5,490

New Student Programs 1,855 1,855

Post Office 275 275

Soutls Family Visitor Center 2,296 5,146

Student Leadership 14,003 24,003

Student Legal Services 305 925

Student Recreation 10,730 5,000

Study Abroad 3,800 3,800

University Book Store 33,530 36,880

University Lectures 435 810

Veterans Center-Expansion 415 2,215

WorkSpace 2,900 3,800

TOTAL 156,897 248,424

While modest increases in additional space were requested by most units, and many needs can be met through the renovation and repurposing of space, there is simply not adequate space in the building to support all the programmatic activities requested. The decision was made that no new programs could be accommodated in the existing Memorial Union space. When comparing available space versus the needs of current Memorial Union occupants and services, the space available is about equivalent to the space requested, less the program spaces determined not to be part of this study. While not all of the needs are expressed fully, this study anticipated that the requested space needs could reasonably fit within the existing available space in the Memorial Union.

The following pages provide the basis of design space needs analysis. A summary finding of the space needs analysis is provided at the right. The full space analysis and summary are located in the Appendix.

TOTAL REQUESTED SPACE SUMMARY

AVAILABLE SPACE:

EXISTING SPACE TO BE RENOVATED: 156,897 SF

SPACE AVAILALBE FOR REPURPOSING: 29,460 SF

TOTAL SPACE AVAILABLE: 186,357 SF

*Requested space includes programming that was determined not to be accomodated within the existing building boundaries.

30

08 STRATEGY SECTIONAL DIAGRAM

The first step in providing a recommendation for meeting the study objectives of repurposing the hotel room floors, expanding dining seating, and improving and expanding student organization and student activity areas was to look at ideal building function by floor.

The goal of assigning a general purpose to each level of the building was to provide a framework to improve general understanding of how the building functions, wayfinding, and functional adjacencies. The section diagram to the left depicts the conceptual discussion of the administrative review team during this study.

SIXTH FLOOR

• Administration-destination offices• Director’s Suite• Business Office• Small Meeting Rooms

FOURTH/FIFTH FLOOR

• Student Resources-amenities, services and departments that meet specific student needs on campus

• Department Offices• Meeting Rooms• Student Services

THIRD FLOOR

Student Leadership—Space for students to take ownership of; amenities to serve activities and functions; get desired functions closer together on one floor. • Student Organizations• Student Activities • Greek Affairs

• Events Management• Lounges• Small Meeting Rooms

SECOND FLOOR

Campus Visitors/Campus Functions—most known floor by off-campus visitors; major access from multiple directions; significant amount of spaces that need to remain where they are (i.e. ballrooms); architecturally public and formal feel.• Soults Family Visitors Center (ideal

location)• Multicultural Center• Large meeting rooms• Lounges/pre-function space

GROUND FLOOR/FIRST FLOOR

General Student Population— foundation of building is a student focus; most accessible floors; high-traffic and frequent stop spaces.• Post office• Bookstore• Dining–retail• New Student Programs• Copy Center• M-Shop• Workspace• Lounges

DIAGRAM TESTING

With the sectional diagram as a guideline, the next step towards making a recommendation was to put diagram tests to paper. With data collection in hand, numerous scenarios were sketched and presented to the administrative review team for comment. Early tests proved that there were many options and

many ways to approach the diagramming strategy, and that several key guidelines would need to be held. They included staying within existing wall boundaries and not including additions; limited renovation or relocation to recently updated spaces (last 10 years); and an implementation plan that could be achieved under reasonable time frames and budgets.

RIGHT-SIZING

In addition to the guidelines, there was also effort to think about right-sizing spaces as new strategies were developed. Right-sizing includes both increasing under-sized spaces to meet current needs and also reducing over-sized spaces to either meet current University standards, where a function has changed, or where a function moved into a space as-is and not appropriately sized from the beginning. Right-sizing has become critical across the ISU campus as the student population grows at a rate higher than new space is available. Shared spaces were also incorporated into planning strategies to maximize available space and meet more needs of the building’s stakeholders.

ADDITIONS

Additions were intentionally left out of this study. Indications of potential addition locations are provided, but require further study. They are considered as providing additive space rather than required space for purposes of this study.

31

ADMINISTRATION

ADMINISTRATION

STUDENT SERVICES

STUDENT LEADERSHIP

VISITORS

GENERAL STUDENTS

GENERAL STUDENTS

SIXTH FLOOR

FIFTH FLOOR

FOURTH FLOOR

THIRD FLOOR

SECOND FLOOR

NORTH ENTRY

WEST ENTRY

EAST ENTRY

WEST ENTRY

SOUTH ENTRY

FIRST FLOOR

LOWER FLOOR

EXIS

TIN

G V

ERTI

CA

LC

ON

NEC

TIO

N

VER

TIC

AL

CIR

CU

LATI

ON

PARK

ING

RA

MP

PRO

POSE

D V

ERTI

CA

L SE

RVIC

E EL

EVA

TOR

32

The following recommendations are based on data collection, analysis and supplemental information received through the duration of this study. These recommendations represent a culmination of multiple iterations and illustrate a path to increase utilization and to provide flexibility within the Memorial Union. They allow for expansion and reorganization of critical resources for students while adapting a historical building to meet the needs of today’s students.

Proposed locations and adjacencies are indicated in the diagrams. Further programming, space analysis, and testing of fit and function are recommended as future projects are implemented. Flexibility has been planned into these diagrams to allow for revised and future programming needs to be accommodated.

The recommendations of this report meet the goals and objectives outlined and provide a sound footing for strategic planning for the Memorial Union for the next 10–15 years. Further study and future programming exercises will further define specific needs and space planning diagrams.

BUILDING SYSTEMS

During the discovery portion of the study, facility staff called to attention the aging infrastructure of the building. Updates to outdated boilers, air handling units and electrical systems need to be addressed in the older portions of the building. Currently, outdated equipment does not utilize current technology to achieve a higher performance and efficiencies.

ACCESSIBILITY

Two existing passenger elevators that serve the First through Sixth Floors continue to have mechanical issues and are consistently being repaired. With the proposed adaptation of the hotels floors, it is projected that these elevators will be used more often by visitors of the tenants on the upper floors.

SERVICE

A large service elevator is needed to connect the ground floor and third floors to allow for better access between maintenance, custodial, catering and storage areas to meeting rooms. The elevator will also provide better access for other tenants primarily during the peak times of the year such as Orientation, Destination Iowa State, the text book reservation program and other large events hosted within the Memorial Union.

HISTORICAL RELEVANCE

Tradition and historical importance is alive at the Memorial Union. From the traditions revolving around the Zodiac to the Four Season’s Fountain and the significance of the Maintenance shop to the sacredness of the Gold Star Hall, the Memorial Union holds historical relevance for the entire campus.

The Memorial Union has had 11 additions in the 87 years it has served the University. In 1953 and 1965, the Northeast and Northwest additions created the historical north and west elevations and finalized the original vision of the building. Today these elevations are arguably the most significant and recognized sides of the building and serve as the true monument of the memorial within. Recommendations of this report intend to uphold this long and enduring history by preservation of the significant elevations and historic fabric of the building.

WAYFINDING

Wayfinding remains a key component for building improvement. The following recommendations attempt to improve wayfinding through strategic planning of services and adjacencies at each level of the building. Additionally, opening nodes on key vertices with views to the outdoors will assist with orientation.

09 RECOMMENDATIONS PLAN AND SPACE ANALYSIS

33

STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The recommendations address the goals and objectives of this study are achieved as follows:

Repurposing the hotel room floors. • Many iterations and plan diagram testing led to office space

being the best fit for relocation to Fourth-Sixth Floors as the guest rooms are vacated.

• Proposed office relocations can happen in a timeframe as required. Because the hotel room function will provide surge space, Fourth-Sixth Floors can be re purposed on a time line that meets budget and space needs.

Expanding dining seating.• In the diagrams provided, it is estimated that an additional

200-250 seats could be added to the existing count.

• Number of seats added will depend on type of furniture and seating selected. It is recommended to consider a variety of seating types to create defendable spaces and a greater selection to patrons.

• Expansion will require the relocation of student office space.

Improving and expanding student organization and student activity areas.• Relocation of student office spaces to Third Floor will provide

an opportunity to review space allocation and organization within this group of students and advisors.

• Opening up the connecting corridors on Third Floor will address the desire for more collaborative work areas.

• Potential future additions will provide an additive opportunity to expand student office space. As shown, and with the collaboration area included, the net student organization space will meet projected future space needs.

Flexibility• The recommendations of this study are intended to provide

future flexibility with many pieces of like size that can be inter-changed as future space needs change. The timeframes in which phases are implemented also allows for some flexibility in future strategic planning.

• As work is completed, it will be important to keep flexibility and the ability to meet future changing needs at the forefront of discussions when planning specific room locations and sizes.

Implementation-Proposed Plan DiagramsThis study’s success hinges on a successful implementation plan. Careful planning to make the best use of surge spaces within the building in a way that is least disruptive to the many functions and services provided 24/7/365 will make the implementation most successful.

THE MEMORIAL UNION SERVES AS THE FOCAL POINT

OF COMMUNITY FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF AND

ALUMNI ON IOWA STATE’S CAMPUS.

– COREY WILLIAMSON,

MEMORIAL UNION ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

34

PROPOSED SPACE ANALYSIS & PLAN DIAGRAMS

GROUP CURRENT SF TOTAL REQUESTED SF

REVISED SF INCLUDED IN

STUDY

SF INDICATED ON PROPOSED PLAN

DIAGRAMS

Administration 5.199 5,949 5,949 5,521

Dining-Catering 4,055 5,255 4,055 4,055

Dining-Retail 25,328 34,600 31,600 31,900

Greek Affairs 2,185 3,110 3,110 2,257

ISSO 3,200 3,600 3,600 3,455

ISU Printing Copy Center 1,100 1,350 1,350 1,575

Lounges 4,565 4,565 4,565 4,565

Meeting Rooms 32,058 80,738 33,738 37,449

M-Shop 2,500 2,950 2,950 2,500

MU Operations 2,508 4,108 4,108 5,787

Multicultural Center 3,655 5,490 5,490 3,655

New Student Programs 1,855 1,855 1,855 1,800

Post Office 275 275 275 450

Soutls Family Visitor Center 2,296 5,146 5,146 6,664

Student Leadership 14,003 24,003 24,003 16,455*

Student Legal Services 305 925 925 560

Student Recreation 10,730 5,000 5,000 4,825

Study Abroad 3,800 3,800 3,800 4,050

University Book Store 33,530 36,880 36,880 36,555

University Lectures 435 810 810 645

Veterans Center-Expansion 415 2,215 2,215 3,715

WorkSpace 2,900 3,800 3,800 3,715

TOTAL 156,897 248,424 185,224 180,383

*Student Leadership space indicated in proposed dia-grams matches current space provided, but was not able to meet proposed growth needs. Additional growth space is recommended in an addition to the building.

Based on the testing of multiple planning schemes, conversations with the Administrative Team, presentation and incorporation of feedback from the Core Team, the following proposed space analysis and planning diagrams are

provided to meet the needs identified in this study. When testing in plan, efficiencies were found in some locations and limitations of building infrastructure and architecture in others. Requested space has been provided within reason of

these limitations and efficiencies. Refer to the Appendix for a full Space Analysis and summary.

35

SIXTH FLOOR

• The Director’s Suite and MU administrative offices will be relocated to the top floor to provide an administration suite.

• Student Legal services will be relocated to the sixth floor to provide privacy and security to students using their services.

• A shared conference room will be added to this floor to allow for flexible use between the tenants on the floor.

Office

Meeting Room

Shared/Collaborative

Retail/Dining Seating

Storage

Service/Support

Administration

Student Resources

Student Leadership

Visitors

General Students

Shared Meeting Room (192 SF)

Student Legal Services (560 SF)

Staff Lounge (223 SF)

Director’s Suite(1,434 SF)

Administrative Offices-Business (1,740 SF)

36

FIFTH FLOOR

• Events Management, Dining/Catering, and University Lectures work closely together, therefore, they have been located together on the fifth floor.

• Two meeting rooms have been added to accommodate private meetings with potential

clients of Events Management. They can also be transformed into Ready Rooms for wedding clients.

• The west terrace will be configured to allow for small outdoor gatherings allowing for impeccable views of Lake Laverne.

Office

Meeting Room



Storage

Service/Support

Administration

Student Resources

Student Leadership

Visitors

General Students

Terrace/Patio(750 SF)

Dining-Offices(815 SF)

Custodial Office (192 SF)

University Lectures (645 SF)

Custodial-Storage (223 SF)

Event ManagementOffices (1,305 SF)

Shared Meeting /Ready Room (223 SF)

Meeting/Ready Room (222 SF)

37

FOURTH FLOOR

• ISSO/Study Abroad

• Both tenants are made up of similar office functions.

• The fourth floor provides easier accessibility

and wayfinding to the tenant spaces than their current location.

• Sharing of some functions meeting rooms and similar office functions would be possible.

Office

Meeting Room



Storage

Service/Support

Administration

Student Resources

Student Leadership

Visitors

General Students

Study Abroad(3,455 SF)

Shared Meeting Room(595 SF)

ISSO (3,455 SF)

38

“

Student Leadership-Student Activities Center-Marketing-Student Accounting(1,688 SF)

Gallery Pioneer Room

Small Meeting Rooms (4,555 SF)

Student Collaborative Work Space (3,500 SF)


Potential Student Leadership Addition(5,670 SF)

Student Leadership-Student Activities Center

-Marketing-Student Accounting

(7,862 SF)

Greek Affairs(2,257 SF)

NOTE: The following spaces have approximately the same proposed space requested and can be viewed interchangeably in the proposed diagrams:• New Student Programs• Veteran’s Center• Greek Affairs

Alternate Freight Elevator location

Proposed Freight Elevator Location

39

THIRD FLOOR

Student Leadership • Third floor presents the best opportunity within the current footprint of

the building to bring student leadership groups together in one space.

• The main corridor will be reconfigured to create a student lounge/collaboration space.

• The future addition provides opportunity to expand the proposed student leadership area to accommodate the future needs and numbers of student organizations.

Meeting Rooms• The small/medium sized meeting rooms will be relocated to the west side

of the floor to maximize the views to Lake Laverne.

• The Pioneer Room and Gallery will remain as is

Greek Affairs• Relocated to the third floor to allow collaboration between Greek life and

other student organizations.

Office

Meeting Room



Storage

Service/Support

Administration

Student Resources

Student Leadership

Visitors

General Students

40

“

Potential Addition(5,670 SF)

Custodial (165 SF)

Study Rooms (580 SF)Main Lounge (1,975 SF)

Meeting Room (1,800 SF)Pre-Function Space (480 SF)

Men’s Restroom (520 SF)

Green Room(260 SF)

Post Office(450 SF)



41

SECOND FLOOR

Meeting Rooms• Additional meeting room for 75–100 occupants will mirror the Cardinal

Room where New Student Programs currently resides.

• A Green Room will be added adjacent to the Great Hall to house presenters

• The Colonel Pride Lounge will be opened up to the Main Lounge to allow for enhanced views toward Central Campus

Post Office• Relocated to the historical information desk to make room for the Men’s

Restroom relocation

General Services• Men’s Restroom will be relocated and enlarged

• Study rooms and computer stations will be added to the Main Lounge

• All other spaces to remain as they are today.

Office

Meeting Room



Storage

Service/Support

Administration

Student Resources

Student Leadership

Visitors

General Students

42

“

Terrace-Green Roof/Roof-scaping ImprovementsDining Seating (14,047 SF)

Student Recreation Center (4,825 SF)

Dining-Retail(1,438 SF)

Potential FutureDining Addition(3,100 SF)



43

FIRST FLOOR

ISU Bookstore• No changes to the retail floor

• Additional space request for Pick Up At Store was not met due to current availability of space

Dining Kitchen• Need for additional space was not met.

• Expansion of dining kitchen can be explored with the potential future addition.

Dining Seating• Expansion of the current seating area provides additional seating for peak

times during the day and flexible expansion of the student recreation space after hours.

Dining Tenant Spaces• Additional dining tenant space has been provided to meet the request from

students.

• Queuing conflicts for the existing Panda Express and Panda Sushi areas have not been solved with this study. Further exploration should be reviewed with the potential future addition.

Student Recreation Space• Student Recreation Space has been reduced based on the current size of

Cybowl.

• Billiard tables and other recreation to be provided. Bowling lanes will be removed from the building.

Office

Meeting Room



Storage

Service/Support

Administration

Student Resources

Student Leadership

Visitors

General Students

44

NOTE: The following spaces have approximately the same proposed space requested and can be viewed interchangeably in the proposed diagrams:• New Student Programs• Veteran’s Center• Greek Affairs

Maintenance/Custodial Offices, Workshop and Storage (3,019 SF)

Potential Future Addition(3,100 SF)

Student Leadership Storage (2,940 SF)

UBS Storage (7,670 SF)

Veterans’ Center (1,945 SF)

New Student Programs (1,800 SF)

WorkSpace(3,515 SF)

Storage (1,730 SF)

ISU PrintingCopy Center

(1,575 SF)

Visitor CenterExpansion(4,368 SF)


New Restrooms (525 SF)Proposed Freight Elevator Location

45

GROUND FLOOR

ISU Bookstore• ISU Bookstore offices to remain in current loca-

tion. Existing space was constructed in 2008.• Stockroom expansion to house the expanding

order fulfillment area based on the growing number of online sales including merchandise and textbooks and the increased need for flex-ible/secure space for merchandise during high demand times.

Workspace• Relocated to be more accessible to users.• Current location is hidden and difficult to find.• Use of the studios has increased based on the

current craft-movement around campus.

Soults Family Visitors Center• Ideal location is near the ramp on second floor.

However, since there is not a location on second floor available and the current location was constructed in 2008, an expansion of the current space is recommended.

Veterans Center• New location allows for significant expansion of

current services.• Relocated area provides easy access for students/

community while providing an area for privacy.

New Student Programs• Relocated to be adjacent to the Soults Family

Visitor’s Center. • Easy access to South entrance for facilitating

bus travel plans during Thanksgiving and spring breaks.

New Restrooms• New men’s and women’s accessible restrooms in

centrally-located area

Maintenance/Custodial/ Loading Dock• Remains on lower level to provide access to the

loading dock area. • Relocated to the current workspace location to

provide easy access to the new freight elevator.

Loading Dock• Expanded lay down area for the dock to provide

flexibility during peak seasons.

Other Spaces• No revisions to the current M-Shop and Long

Term Student Organization Storage areas.

Office

Meeting Room



Storage

Service/Support

Administration

Student Resources

Student Leadership

Visitors

General Students

46

10 IMPLEMENTATION PHASING AND COST PROJECTIONS

Critical to the success of the recommendations of this study is a implementable phasing plan. Careful consideration was given on how to vacate one area of the building, repurpose it, move in and then vacate and start a new area and starting the process again. This strategy allows for surge space, an effective move management plan, as well as the ability to assess each phase individually in timing, funding and spaces to be relocated.

PHASING STRATEGY

Phase 1 aims to meet the first objective of the study, to repurpose the hotel room floors. The vacant hotel rooms will inherently be the first surge space that can be repurposed in the building. By relocating office spaces to Fourth-Sixth Floors, Third Floor space is freed to become the next surge space for repurposing.

Phase 2 meets another objective of the study, improving and expanding student organization and student activity area. Relocating these offices spaces and adding much-desired collaboration space on the Third Floor seeks to unite the student office spaces in the building and give students ownership of a larger portion of one floor of the building. This phase would also include the relocation and updating of small meeting rooms on Third Floor as well as rest rooms. This phase will provide surge space on First Floor.

Phase 3 meets the final study objective of expanding dining seating. After many iterations of diagramming, it was determined that this objective would only be achieved within the existing building boundaries by the relocation of office space from First Floor. When complete, the three primary objectives of this study have been met. Additional phases provide opportunities for the improved adjacency and wayfinding improvements in the building as well as meeting stakeholder increased space needs.

Phase 4 allows for the growth of the Admission’s Visitor Center on Ground Floor, the growth of the University Book Store stock room, and the relocation of the Work Space to a more public area of the building. This phase could be implemented at any time during strategic planning for the Memorial Union.

Phase 5 adds additional needed meeting room space at Second Floor and opens the Main Lounge to the north central campus and Campanile. This phase includes a new men’s rest room at Second Floor, and a new green room. This phase is also

somewhat independent of other phases with the exception of the needed relocation of administrative offices and New Student Programs.

PROJECT COSTS

Project costs per phase are included in this study to provide guidelines for future planning. Costs include a significant amount of infrastructure upgrades, design contingency and soft costs including some furnishings, telecom cabling, abatement, relocation costs, etc. Specialty furnishing and equipment would be in addition to the costs noted.

An inflation factor of 6% has been added to the cost figures to account for a minimal project cost escalation, but all figures should be considered as current costs in dollars relevant to the date of the study. As phases are implemented, an updated cost analysis should be performed to bring forward relevant escalation costs.

Costs provide match a high level of quality as is evident in the existing building. Due to the historic nature and fabric of the building, along with the timeframe in which spaces will be remodelled again, it is advised to seek as high of a quality level as budgets will allow as implementation occurs.

Where budget numbers include deferred maintenance items included in the ISIS report, general work items that overlap construction and deferred mainintenance costs have been identified.

PROJECT COST SUMMARY

The following summary includes costs from all phases of construction.

Phase 1 $8,000,000 - $8,430,000

Phase 2 $6,600,000 - $7,100,000

Phase 3 $8,650,000 - $9,250,000

Phase 4 $6,800,000 - $7,300,000

Phase 5 $1,900,000 - $2,000,000

Freight Elevator $1,100,000 - $1,200,000

TOTAL $33,050,000-$35,280,000

47

PHASE 1 FOURTH-SIXTH FLOORS

Sixth Floor repurpose from hotel to office spaceFifth Floor repurpose from hotel to office spaceFourth Floor repurpose from hotel to office space

COST PROJECTION

$380–400/sf21,070 sf

$8,000,000–8,430,000

DURATION

24 months design and construction

DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ADDRESSED

New plumbing systems & fixturesNew secondary electrical distribution (primary service was recently updated) with new lightingNew mechanical systemsNew data and telecommunications distributionNew distribution of sprinkler system from existing mains

Fourth Floor

Fifth Floor

Sixth Floor

Shared Meeting Room (192 SF)

Student Legal Services (560 SF)

Staff Lounge (223 SF)

Director’s Suite(1,434 SF)

Administrative Offices-Business (1,740 SF)

Terrace/Patio(750 SF)

Dining-Offices(815 SF)

Custodial Office (192 SF)

University Lectures (645 SF)

Custodial-Storage (223 SF)

Event ManagementOffices (1,305 SF)

Shared Meeting /Ready Room (223 SF)

Meeting/Ready Room (222 SF)

Study Abroad(3,455 SF)

Shared Meeting Room(595 SF)

ISSO (3,455 SF)

48


Small Meeting Rooms (4,555 SF)

Student Collaborative Work Space (3,500 SF)


Student Leadership(7,862 SF)

Greek Affairs(2,257 SF)

PHASE 2 THIRD FLOOR

Repurpose Third Floor into student office space,

meeting rooms

COST PROJECTION

$315-340/sf20,885 sf

$6,600,000–7,100,000

DURATION



In indicated work areas:New plumbing systems & fixturesNew primary & secondary electrical distribution with new lightingNew mechanical systemsNew data and telecommunications distributionNew distribution of sprinkler system from existing mains

49

PHASE 3 FIRST FLOOR

Expand dining seating at First Floor

Upgrade Terrace

COST PROJECTION

$310-325/sf

27,653 sf

$8,650,000-9,250,000

DURATION


Terrace-Green Roof/Roof-scaping ImprovementsDining Seating (14,047 SF)

Student Recreation (4,825 SF)

Dining-Retail(1,438 SF)



50

PHASE 4 GROUND FLOOR

Expand Admissions Visitor CenterExpand University Book Store Stock RoomRelocate WorkSpace

Relocate Mechanical Shop

COST PROJECTION

$300-325/sf22,561 sf

$6,800,000–7,300,000

DURATION




51

PHASE 5 SECOND FLOOR

Renovate office space into meeting spaceUpdate Main LoungeStudy RoomsNew Men’s Restroom

Green Room

COST PROJECTION

$300-325/sf

6,230 sf

$1,900,000–2,000,000

DURATION


FREIGHT ELEVATOR

Replace existing service elevator with freight elevator-4 stops (Note: two locations were consdiered under this study for the location of the elevator. It is anticipated that costs will be similar in either location. Further study is required.

COST PROJECTION

$1,100,000–1,200,000

DURATION

6 months

Note: Freight elevator work could be completed concurrently with any other phase

Custoidal (165 SF)

Study Rooms (580 SF)Main Lounge (1,975 SF)

Meeting Room (1,800 SF)Pre-Function Space (480 SF)

Men’s Restroom (520 SF)

Green Room(260 SF)

Post Office(450 SF)


In indicated work areas:New plumbing systems & fixturesNew primary & secondary electrical distribution with new lightingNew mechanical systemsNew data and telecommunications distributionNew distribution of sprinkler system from existing mainsElevator 5 updates



52

11 APPENDIX SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

IOWA STATE U NIVER SITY

MEMORIAL UNION

FINAL REPORT 08.26.11

PARTICIPANTS:

Richard Reynolds ISU Memorial UnionGail Ferlazzo ISU Memorial UnionJohn Lauridsen ISU Memorial UnionScott Maas ISU Memorial UnionScott Southward ISU Memorial UnionLaura Helmus ISU Memorial UnionGeorge Micalone ISU Memorial UnionJennifer Garret Nissen ISU Memorial UnionLetitia Kenemer ISU Memorial Union

Jeffrey Miller ISU DiningLiz Kurt ISU New Student ProgramsPatricia Miller ISU Lectures ProgramRita Philllips University Book StoreMarc Harding ISU Office of AdmissionsStephanie Salasek ISU Office of Admissions

A.Dean Morton ISU Facilties Planning & ManagementRobert Holzwarth ISU Facilties Planning & ManagementMargie Tabor ISU Facilties Planning & Management

Michael Broshar INVISION Planning Architecture InteriorsMark Nevenhoven INVISION Planning Architecture InteriorsBrad Leeper INVISION Planning Architecture InteriorsKerry Weig INVISION Planning Architecture InteriorsCraig Shannon INVISION Planning Architecture Interiors

INDEX:

INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................................5

DISCUSSION AREAS:

LOWER LEVELUNDERGROUND..............................................................................................................................7GREEK LIFE & STUDENT LEGAL OFFICES.........................................................................................16

LEVEL 2LEVEL 2 BUILD-OUT.......................................................................................................................19MAIN LOUNGE..............................................................................................................................26

LEVEL 4-6HOTEL............................................................................................................................................30

INTRODUCTION:

In April 2011, INVISION Planning, Architecture and Interiors was invited to conduct a charrette exercise with management and staff of the Memorial Union, along with representatives from Iowa State University Facilities Planning & Management, the University Book Store, ISU Dining, and the Office of Admissions. The purpose of this charrette was to discuss five distinct, but potentially inter-mingled spaces defined by the Memorial Union managment, discussing how the spaces are currently used, what the current management and facility challenges are, and to discuss potential revisions to and recommendations for each of the spaces. The information gathered in this report records the conversation that evolved during the charrette, and is intended to serve as a spearhead for future masterplanning and projects within the Memorial Union.

AREAS OF DISCUSSION:

•LOWER LEVEL-UNDERGROUND - Approximately 4,250 gsf of gaming area, including service counter with concessions, game tables, electronic gaming and seating

- Approximately 5,750 gsf of the 1939 addition to the Memorial Union, including (8) bowling lanes, equipment, and ball storage areas

•LOWER LEVEL-GREEK LIFE & LEGAL OFFICES - Approximately 2,600 gsf of the 1950 addition, including office area for Student Legal Services and Greek Life offices

•LEVEL 2-SOUTH ADDITION BUILD-OUT - Approximately 14,000 gsf above the 2007 addition to the Memorial Union. The addition was structured to allow expansion of a second level (maximum 150 lb/sf live load)

- There is potential to expand an additional 4,000 sf over the existing dock area

•LEVEL 2-MAIN LOUNGE - Approximately 3,450 gsf of Main Lounge which includes office space and a post office

- Approximately 900 gsf of Colonel Harold Pride

Lounge

LOWER LEVEL

GAMING

BOWLING

STUDENT LEGAL OFFICESGREEK LIFE OFFICES

LEVEL 2

PRIDE LOUNGE

MAIN LOUNGE

EXISTING ADDITION

POTENTIAL EXPANSION5

AREA OF DISCUSSION:

LEVEL 2 BUILD-OUT

BACKGROUND:• Student organizations may use rooms for free• Campus to non-campus usage ratio is 92/8• Meeting rooms the size of the Pioneer Room or Gallery (approximately 2,000-2,500 sf) are desired; the MU anticipates another (3-4) rooms this size could be supported • Most meetings are single-day events • New meeting space is desired to be flexible• A theatre area to seat (200-400) is desired by the MU• Admissions desires a space to seat (750)• The catering kitchen may require expanded space• An art gallery is desired in the building separate from the meeting rooms• A board room area should be considered, available for general public reservation• A private reception space should be considered• Large open houses require all existing ballrooms to be open to each other

DISCUSSION:• South entry stair configuration will require maintaining light to atrium below• Stairs to the west may be able to go away if connections to existing exiting are made• Adequate restroom space will need to be incorporated• Adequate storage will need to be provided for new spaces• It is desirable to keep the southern view for way finding• The effect on the exterior elevations is significant• Exiting will need careful review with the addition• There needs to be a connection with the Sun Room, but not necessarily open directly to each other• Maintain light into the Sun Room • Any expansion to the building must take into account the space requirements and associated labor costs for service and operation of the additional area

PRIMARY BUILDING AXIS

EXISTING ADDITION

EXISTING LEVEL 2 FLOOR PLANNDOCK AREA AT LOWER LEVEL

19

OPTION 1:MEETING ROOM EXPANSION

• Build-out of existing construction including (2) 2,500+ sf meeting rooms, (2) 1,000 sf meeting rooms, restrooms, catering kitchen and storage

• Extension of primary north/ south circulation on east side of building to improve wayfinding to the addition

• Reconfigure kitchen to accommodate corridor

• Second elevator added

• Gallery located between meeting rooms

• Open view to south at top of stair

• Skylight between addition and Sun Room to let natural light into existing spaces

VIEW TO SOUTH AT EXHIBIT SPACE

VIEW TO NORTH AT TOP OF STAIR

VIEW BETWEEN ADDITION AND SUN ROOM 20

OPTION 1 LEVEL 2 FLOOR PLANN

PRIMARY BUILDING

AXIS

MEETING ROOM

PRIMARY BUILDING

AXIS

MEETING ROOM

STORAGE

SUN ROOM

SOUTH BALLROOM

GREAT HALL

OAK ROOM

MULTICULTURALCENTER

REST-ROOM

REST- ROOM

CATERINGKITCHEN

MEETING ROOM

NEW RESTROOMS

NEW CIRCULATION

POTENTIAL EXPANSION AREA OVER DOCK

MAIN LOUNGE

HOTEL DESK

21

EXHIBIT AREA

APPROXIMATELY200 PERSON

SEATING CAPACITY


SEATING CAPACITY


SEATING CAPACITY

OPTION 2:AUDITORIUM

• Build-out of existing construction including (2) 2500+ sf meeting rooms, with 100 sf flexible space between; rooms can be opened to each other to provide one large space; restrooms, catering kitchen and storage are also added

• Extension of primary north/south circulation on east side of building adjacent to parking ramp to improve wayfinding to and exiting from the addition

• Second elevator added

• Skylight between addition and Sun Room to let natural light into existing spaces

450 SEAT AUDITORIUM

MEETING ROOM STORAGE

VIEW IN AUDITORIUM

22

OPTION 2 LEVEL 2 FLOOR PLANN

PRIMARY BUILDING

AXIS

MEETING ROOM

PRIMARY BUILDING

AXIS

MEETING ROOM

450 SEAT AUDITORIUM

SUN ROOM

SOUTH BALLROOM

GREAT HALL

OAK ROOM

MULTICULTURALCENTER

CATERINGKITCHEN

RESTROOMS

NEW CIRCULATION

STORAGE

STORAGE

MAIN LOUNGE

HOTEL DESK

23

REST-ROOM


SEATING CAPACITY


SEATING CAPACITY

STORAGE

EXTERIOR MASSING -OPTION 1

EXTERIOR MASSING -OPTION 2

24

HOTEL DESK

FAMILY RESTROOM

AREA OF DISCUSSION:

MAIN LOUNGE

BACKGROUND:• There are currently a mix of formal and informal lounges throughout the building, ranging in both their function and architecture Current Lounge Spaces: Lower Level: Entry seating, Underground, M-Shop Level 1: Café seating, Commons, Pine Room, Nook and Cranny, Trophy Tavern, Browsing Library, SOS East Level 2: Main Lounge, Pride Lounge, West Lounge, Campanile Room Anteroom, Hotel Desk, East Lobby, West Lobby, Multicultural Center Level 3: Outside Great Hall Balcony, East Meeting Room Corridor• There is a desire by the Administration to provide lounge space as an amenity for guests and students-enforces the philosophy of the student union• University-wide, lounge areas are desired -the most successful examples of lounge spaces on campus are: Coover, Hach Hall, and BRL• The most successful spaces in the Memorial Union have wi-fi, daylight, comfortable furniture, and adequately sized tables• There is known asbestos content in the ceiling of this area which will add substantial cost to renovations in this area

PRIMARY BUILDING

AXIS

PRIMARY BUILDING

AXIS

EXISTING LEVEL 2 FLOOR PLANN

MAIN LOUNGE

POST OFFICE

PRIDE LOUNGE

LACTATION ROOM

OFFICES

25

DISCUSSION:

• It is desired to open up the south wall of the Pride Lounge to allow views of the Campanile• Offices could be relocated to allow for a more open plan-relocation would need to consider impact on the revenue stream• Post office size can be reduced and potentially relocated to meet current and changing future needs/necessity; post office functions may choose to relocate outside of the Memorial Union• It is desirable to have the men’s restroom in a location that corresponds to the women’s restroom for way finding• Existing men’s restroom would make a logical location for a desired “green room” for performances in the Great Hall; the room could potentially be used for storage and the current stage level storage could be used for the Green Room• Break-out rooms are a desirable option• Furniture arrangement needs to be reviewed• A coffee shop at the old hotel desk would be a valuable amenity for student and guests• As this area is developed, the Memorial Union should consider removing the offices from the high-traffic corridor

VIEW TO NORTH OF RENOVATED LOBBY 26

LACTATION ROOM

FAMILY RESTROOM

PRIMARY BUILDING

AXIS

PRIMARY BUILDING

AXIS

OPEN LOUNGE VIEWS TO NORTH

COFFEE BAR

MAIN LOUNGE PLAN-OPTION 1N

GREEN ROOM

MEN’S RESTROOM

STORAGE

OFFICE

STORAGE

FAMILY RESTROOM PLANN 27

VIEW OF BREAK-OUT ROOMS28

PRIMARY BUILDING

AXIS

PRIMARY BUILDING

AXIS

OPEN LOUNGE VIEWS TO NORTH

COFFEE BAR

MAIN LOUNGE PLAN-OPTION 2N

GREEN ROOM

MEN’S RESTROOM

BREAK OUT ROOMS

STORAGE

OFFICE/SERVICE

STORAGE

1

Survey Results/Data Collection:

Soft closing: October 9

Question 1:

Other than for work, how often do you visit the MU in a typical week?

Answer Options Response Percent Response Count

1-2 42.2% 105

2-3 16.9% 42

3-4 12.0% 30

4-5 13.3% 33

5-6 6.0% 15

7+ 9.6% 24

answered question 249

skipped question 57

Question 2:

Check the following services that draw you to the MU.


University Bookstore 82.5% 240

Commons Dining Room 51.5% 150

Meeting Rooms 33.0% 96

Soults Family Visitor Center 18.6% 54

Student Resources Areas 8.2% 24

Browsing Library 11.0% 32

Hotel 2.1% 6

Copy Center 9.6% 28

Lounge/Study Areas 38.8% 113

Speakers 24.7% 72

MU Market & Cafe 65.3% 190

Multicultural Center 16.2% 47

Maintenance Shop 29.6% 86

Terraces 11.0% 32

Entertainment 35.1% 102

Dining 63.2% 184

Post Office 23.7% 69

Underground 15.8% 46

Workspace 14.4% 42

Veterans Center 0.0% 0

Shortcut to Campus 28.5% 83

Other (please specify) 19


skipped question 15

2

Question 3:

Check the services you did not know existed at the MU.








Hotel 8.9% 13

Copy Center 38.4% 56


Speakers 21.2% 31




Terraces 26.0% 38


Dining 2.1% 3


Underground 6.8% 10

Workspace 8.9% 13

Other (please specify) 0.7% 1


skipped question 160

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ooks

tore

Com

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Din

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Mee

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Sou

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Fam

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e/S

tudy

Are

as

Spea

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MU

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afe

Mult

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ura

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Mai

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spac

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Cam

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Check the following services that draw you to the MU.

3

Question 4:

Can you easily find the services within the MU?


Yes. 84.1% 244

No. Which locations are difficult to find? 15.9% 46


skipped question 16

Question 5:

What is your favorite location in the MU? Why?

Answer Options Response Count

256


skipped question 50

0.0%

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25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

40.0%

45.0%

Check the services you did not know existed at the MU.

4

Top words in sort:

Place 57

Study 53

Great 45

Food 25

Quiet 23

Love 22

Room 21

Area 20

Good 20

M-Shop 20

People 18

Center 17

Multicultural 17

Hall 16

Eat 16

Favorite 14

Work 14

Lunch 13

Lounge 12

Bookstore 11

Sort “place”:

e sun room I believe. It's a nice quiet place to sit and relax and you can study ther

hop when there is a concert; its a nice place to just listen to music and hang out, h

to the sun room. The chairs are a quiet place to sit and enjoy the view of campus

Multicultural Center. They are a great place to go and get homework done but they ar

rea- I like meal bundles my favorite place in the MU is the multicultural center.

cultural center. It is a good and quiet place to study and there is food downstairs f

iet Bookstore. it is really the only place i routinely use and I only go on the we

to anyone who wants to come in, a great place to eat and sudy Bookstore WEST ST

ing library because it is a nice, quiet place to study and it has the COMFIEST chairs

2 weeks and this is the most convenient place to do so. If I study in the MU, I lo

The Bookstore The sun room - great place to study The Maintenance Shop. It's

student work space because it is a nice place to get things done for class The ter

the West Lounge because it's a peaceful place to study with classic decor and a great

ion. Sun Room, because it is a great place to study. Bookstore, because I like

5

the sun room. The workspace is a unique place too. I love the couch areas or the d

s the west lounge because it is a great place to study with all those comfy couches

comfy couches The great hall, a good place for events with good aesthetics. The

es! The cardinal room is my favorite place to study. I like the rich, decorative e

and useful purpose. Sun Room, great place to eat/study that is generally quiet an

Sunroom - best view of campus - great place to study The third floor study rooms

utside of the sun room is a really good place to study. Study areas. Its a great p

e to study. Study areas. Its a great place to go and work on homework. I'm comfort

l and VEISHEA. It's also a really great place to hold a meeting or just go and study.

Visitor Center; it's a great, friendly place! Also, the Multicultural Center because

lticultural Center because it was a fun place to meet/study last year! The West Lo

Sort “place to sit”:

e sun room I believe. It's a nice quiet place to sit and relax and you can study there too.

to the sun room. The chairs are a quiet place to sit and enjoy the view of campus ASD

Sort “place to study”

cultural center. It is a good and quiet place to study and there is food downstairs for study

ing library because it is a nice, quiet place to study and it has the COMFIEST chairs on campu

The Bookstore The sun room - great place to study The Maintenance Shop. It's a very un

the West Lounge because it's a peaceful place to study with classic decor and a great view of

ion. Sun Room, because it is a great place to study. Bookstore, because I like bookstore

s the west lounge because it is a great place to study with all those comfy couches The gre

es! The cardinal room is my favorite place to study. I like the rich, decorative environmen

Sunroom - best view of campus - great place to study The third floor study rooms The G

utside of the sun room is a really good place to study. Study areas. Its a great place to g

ground Any of the lounges are a good place to study. WSOS- great resources and sense of

Question 6:

6

Are there areas that are not well known within the MU that everyone should know about?








Hotel 7.0% 15

Copy Center 31.3% 67


Speakers 10.3% 22




Terraces 7.0% 15


Dining 2.3% 5


Underground 29.4% 63

Workspace 32.2% 69



skipped question 92

7

Question 7:

Rank your top five priorities of spaces you would like to see added to the MU?

Answer Options

1 -

Highest

Priority

2 3 4 5 - Lowest

Priority

Rating

Average

Response

Count

Comfortable Seating 64 49 48 31 16 3.55 208

Private Study Space 51 51 41 33 21 3.40 197

Updated Aesthetic 22 37 57 30 26 2.99 172

Coffee Shop 48 33 36 34 38 3.10 189

Quiet Lounge Areas 54 50 47 33 17 3.45 201

Collaborative Student Areas 40 39 56 26 23 3.26 184

Improvements to the Terraces 29 42 57 34 26 3.07 188

Meeting Space for Events 29 37 44 37 23 3.07 170

Added Seating for Dining 87 51 34 22 15 3.83 209

Additional Food Venues 80 48 43 22 27 3.60 220



skipped question 37

0.0%

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10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

Are there areas that are not well known within the MU that everyone should Are there areas that are not well known within the MU that everyone should Are there areas that are not well known within the MU that everyone should Are there areas that are not well known within the MU that everyone should know about?know about?know about?know about?

8

Question 8:

List features (if any) you have seen at Student Unions on other campuses that you would like

to see in the MU.


80



Responses:

I would like to have more food venues in the Memorial Union. I would like to have more franchise fast-food chains like Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, etc.

None

Computer capabilities for a quick email check would be nice. Printing should be more readily available.

SD

Maybe a 'sports' lounge?

A Runza

A large, open layout that allows for both studying and eating (UNI). Also a computer lab.

The outdoor terrace at University of Wisconsin at Madison is an awesome venue! It'd be cool to see one of our terraces expand and grow into a conducive entertainment venue.

larger multicultural center

Hmmm I really like the Union. Maybe a coffee shop? Like Starbucks or something

0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00

Comfortable Seating

Private Study Space

Updated Aesthetic

Coffee Shop

Quiet Lounge Areas

Collaborative Student Areas

Improvements to the…

Meeting Space for Events

Added Seating for Dining

Additional Food Venues

Rank your top five priorities of spaces you would like to see added to the MU?Rank your top five priorities of spaces you would like to see added to the MU?Rank your top five priorities of spaces you would like to see added to the MU?Rank your top five priorities of spaces you would like to see added to the MU?

9

more usable microwaves. the ones present in the common area looks to be from and older generation and this new generations doesn't really

know how to work it properly. so some students choose to use the one in the office space even tho it's not allowed.

more chain dining options

Ohio State University Union - They have a whole area completely dedicated to student leadership. Two floors of offices in a loft style overlook a fire place with seating with various tables and group areas within this area. Each office is then about the size of the old VEISHEA office/SUB

office. Some smaller organizations share office space but large organizations have their own. Storage space is included within/under this student

leadership area. Just go into this area/the welcome threshold and you'll be amazon. O-H… i-o.

STARBUCKS. And more Iowa State culture like history, memorabilia, etc.

Better area for club offices and more storage room.

Glass and pretty architecture.

more seating/lounge areas

coffee Shop

Nap pods, more space for visitor center volunteers(STARS) more printing locations, booth seating/ more private seating

Wisconsin Madison has a beer sampler that is really cool.

Technology Center, optional classes to take on random subjects, free entertainment

More food options, A coffee shop (STARBUCKS) More advertising about rooms the MU has to offer to students

A sports bar without the bar. Like bww atmosphere but no acohol due to possible rules in place

Ice Cream!!!!

Lots of seating on the terraces with live music on Fridays I have never seen this anywhere else, but it would be very cool if we had an alumni name wall like they had at the Iowa State Fair. It could be a big

computer screen so that names could easily be added or taken off through a computer program. It would draw revenue to the MU because

alumni would come find their name and then maybe buy something at the food court or bookstore while they were in the MU

Probably just more restaurants! (like chain restaurants)

More restaurants

I always liked the style of the UNI Union's dining/commons area. It's not just a plain, flat dining hall; it has different tiers and large sideroom sections and a higher, more open ceiling. We have little siderooms in ours, but most are plain and tiny, almost claustrophobic. Theirs feels like

an area where people can gather and hang out; ours feels like an area where you just eat and leave (or just gather in small groups to study).

I like keeping the overall style of our MU more traditional, but for the areas that are already newer/modernized (like the dining area), I feel like they could be a lot more comfortable, interesting, and inviting.

NA

Better wifi signals.

Expanded health food option

More than one room for eating with more eating options.

The MU needs to be modernized and enlarged to meet the needs of today's ISU. In particular, the ground floor (food court area) seems dated

and tired.

signs directing people to water bottle filling stations

* Long, large dining tables. * Get rid of the gross fast food. It smells bad and is horrible for you.

* Healthier food selection.

* Better organization of the space in general.

A Starbucks!

Pancheros,

Open atrium (difficult to do)

Nice terrace

Coffee Shop

More Food Options

Patio for concerts with plenty of seating and an outdoor bar.

International Room with flags from all the countries where we have students Class Ring Room

Wall of Student Body Presidents

More food venues like Subway and Panda, coffee shop outside the c-store, more private meeting areas

N/A

More restaurants

none

Haircut salon,

N/A

10

A separate area for dining and studying.

N/A

Additional meeting spaces for student organizations with better technology services

Private study areas

More food venues, cafes, lounge room with TV

Banking, collaborative and relaxing spaces, more outlets

more dining options

Theater space, workout room (not really needed), rental bicycles

just updates - nicer paint and modern aesthetics

Late night, overnight eating and weekends, Computer Lab, Roof top terrace, better signage, dedicated auditorium

Roller skating rink, Bar

auditorium - full size restaurants - full size

Central student org offices - i have seen other campuses have student org buildings (i know we have student org offices now)

Fireplace and seating - coffee shop setting/style

Video wall to display upcoming campus events

a larger band venue: 500-1000 capacity

more comfortable seating

Haven't been anywhere else

Better terracing

computer centers for students/hotel guests

more study spaces for group projects Minnesota - collaborative lounge/office space for student centers; a restaurant that has nicer options and can sit down - maybe on the terrace; a

museum or room displaying the history of MU/ISU

coffee shop, more food choices

Movie theater playing old movies and new releases

Greater availability of power, more access to charging

more places to eat - healthier options

pay phones

Jamba Juice

Footsteps on the floor to specific places or colored taping

locker room with shower

updated hotel rooms

Bigger common seating areas away from cafeteria

A large permanent-seating auditorium

11

Question 9:

Please share any other comments you have or hear from students regarding the MU.


78



Responses:

I love the MU. It's my favorite place to study/ meet with friends because there is always a high-energy in there because of all the students and

different activities. However, the seating arrangement - both amount and chair placement - needs improving because of the amount of students

using the space.

The MU is the heart of ISU. It is special and deserves to be maintained and improved.

ADA

Too many people in too small of a space - especially around lunch

Get a Runza! I appreciate the idea of updating the MU; it's an old building and could probably use a few renovations. However, it is the heart of campus. That

building is where so much of ISU happens, changing it too much could really impact student life and I think that should be kept in mind. As it

stands now it's ornate and old and full of traditions, if those things changed there would be bitter disappointment all the way around. While

looking at ways to update the building I encourage the committee to really focus on what the students want in juxtaposition to the traditions we have here at Iowa State. We lost a really big one last year, be careful what you do next.

It's a great building with lots of potential but the space is not well utilized. Students don't have enough room to spread out to eat/study so the

food court area just gets crowded and unmanageable. Also, international students can NEVER find the ISSO office. It's like a maze. Domestic students wouldn't event be able to find it, let alone someone who speaks English as their second language and has to ask directions to 5 people

before finding it.

more quiet spaces to study

The MU is a great facility, but with the size of our student body, we could definitely use a greater expansion of some of the different rooms and

services. I would LOVE to see more quiet study spaces, coffee shops, food venues, and dining area expansion.

More dining space may be nice since enrollment is increasing like crazy.

none

there aren't enough chairs in the east student office space since i know sometimes other organizations bring their friends with them or sometimes there is more than one club member present an there is only limited amount of chairs.

We need more office space.

Not enough space and places are hard to find.

The veterans center is a great concept, but they need a bigger space. As more student veterans are learning of the space, the more traffic their getting but they don't have enough space to support the volume of people that want to share in it at the same time. Most times there is at least

one person standing because there's not enough room for everyone to sit.

I think the main concern is the study abroad center. I is literally in the most random spot and is difficult to find if you are a visiting student or parent. I also think it would be beneficial to supply more maps/ guides for guests. I can count on both hands how many times I have had to help

someone find a room/ lecture/ or event at the MU

The MU is a great place, but there are definitely ways to make it even better. Consider creating a space where all students can meet and spend time in between classes. Another type of a library where it is easy to get things done and also socialize

I think overall that the ISU MU is better than many college campuses

In general, I think the MU is very nice. With increased enrollment, the one big need is more seating in the dining areas.

Hotel isn't necessary, but we don't want it turned into all office space... If you take the hotel away, make it into something students can use!

The main complaints I hear are those of lack of seating during the noon hour and the insanely long line for Panda Express.

Good student friendly space, Panda is really popular, common meeting place on campus because everyone knows where it is. I'm a STAR tour

guide and everyone on tours always comments about how beautiful it is

The dining center isn't very good and they need more seating.

12

Whole place reeks of Panda Express and Subway, the dining area is too crowded, Browsing Library is always full of sleeping people taking up

spots, parking garage should have free 1 hour parking or something.

The bowling alley needs some serious improvements, and the parking is some of the highest priced in Ames throughout the day and night.

As facilities for informal student activities, like Student Orgs and the Workspace, keep decreasing on campus (as everyone fights for more classroom space), it would be nice if the MU could do the opposite and become more of a place for students to actually do their own, self-

organized activities.

I have heard and have seen that sometimes Muslim students use Multicultural office to pray, and they bow down right on the ground. I wish there will be praying room provided with praying rugs or some accommodations are made for students with different religions.

Wish the lounge chairs and sofas weren't so dirty

Most love the place and the atmosphere it generates. It attracts many alumni who have fond memories too.

Center for student activity and everyone uses it, so should be kept up well. Big point on campus tours

Consider doing away with the hotel, moving student office space to those floors which would allow additional space for dining and meeting room functions.

I hate going to the MU. There's no point for me to go there. I would never eat any of the food served, and the seating sucks in the dining area.

None of my friends would go study at the MU because it's too loud or crowded or there isn't enough table space for us to work. There are very

few places that have enough room for 4 or 5 engineering students to work together. The tables are too small and the chairs are uncomfortable.

It's often too warm inside

Great location.

too busy during lunch (result of overcrowded campus.....)

Students love to use the dining here and with it being over crowded, students do not get to spend as much time in the building which reduces

usage of other services.

Outdated.

It's a great place for meetings and to go eat, but students don't use it often to study in.

A lot of students have mentioned the dining center needs more seating.

It's very crowded.

Make the outside landscaping more dramatic

looking at the list of priority options - please don't change the beauty of the MU. I love all the older pieces and the woodwork. The "older" pieces add to the importance of the work we are doing here.

More space for students.

It's a nice place to study.

It always feels way too busy and like there is not much down time during normal open hours.

A lot of people like the events at the m u easy to get to

The MU is way too crowded. We need a lot more dining options and places to sit down and eat. If the university is going to keep increasing the

student body, then they should increase the services provided. Our facilities fees haven't gone down! I think the MU has a lot of meeting spaces. I know that it is used for student groups and outside events but I think it could be renovated and used

for more study spaces for students especially with the increased student enrollment and overcrowding in the library. It would also be beneficial to

have more seating in the dining are due to increased student enrollment. Places that were not longer crowded are now busting at the seams with students and are overly noisy.

Cant eat lunch there because there isn't enough seats

The dining is fine, but the seating is lacking.

The MU is very crowded during the day, especially the food court and dining areas. Meeting spaces for student organizations are hard to come by, especially with proper technology and collaboration services.

- too much traffic around lunch time; difficult to navigate

- single dining seating would be nice so one student eating alone does not have to sit at a table for 5 making a party of 4 feel like they can't sit

there

- the terrace is wonderful but feels as if it is not put together. suggestions would be adding more tables to the empty space and incorporating

colorful umbrellas or something like that

I really like the building architecture and style it has.

Study abroad office is very hard to find.

Not enough seating also lines are terrible especially panda at blocking hallway usage

Outdated bathrooms, maps/signs to direct to offices

Crowded; the underground should be updated

The underground should be updated

Full scale MU model

13

need new soda machine at the subway, its gross

Both students and faculty agree that the MU is a beautiful place with a very appealing aesthetic

Floors are confusing and elevators are not usefull

It’s a great meeting place/point

workspace is really difficult to get to

free/discounted parking for student employees

too hard to find anything. they don't know where anything is

It’s confusing

we need more space to hang out in groups and sit and relax. there is no main lounge space to gather.

serious lack of dining space/options

with all these new ideas, we should think about expanding the Memorial Union

Late night access, food access at better hours

more charging stations

more seating in the food court

parking

discounted printing

wifi access. building built in 1928, it looks amazing but infrastructure, ie power/roof leaks, take away from it. update building, but not its looks.

A 3-D model of each floor for giving people directions (or better maps)

more maps or directional signs

Themes from Student Survey and Staff/Tenant Interviews:

• More dining options

• More seating for dining

• Better organization of space

• Areas of student ownership-lounge, work areas

• Private study areas

• Auditorium

• Fine dining/restaurant

• Improved way-finding

• Better manage crowding-dining and building

Department Area Do

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t

Mo

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mo

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U

LL L1 L2 L3 L4 L5 L6 Comments

Administration Director/Assistant Director Suite X

Business Office X

Events Management X

Custodial Office X

Marketing X

Bookstore Admin Offices X X

Copy Center Print Center X X

Dining - Retail Commons- Seating X

Additional Seating X

Food Court X

Subway X

Panda Express X

MU Market and Café X

Restaurant X

New Food Venue X

Greek Affairs X

ISSO X

Lecturers X

Lounge West Lounge X X

Main Lounge X

Pride Lounge X

Meeting Rooms Large

Small/Medium X

MU Operations Hotel X X X X

Hotel Desk X X

Workspace X

Underground X X

M-Shop X X

Multicultural Center X

Browsing Library X

Chapel X

New Student Programs X

Post Office X

Soults Family Visitors Center X X

Student Legal Services X

Student Orgs X

SUB X

Study Abroad X

Veterans Center X

Help Desk X Added program

New MU-Market Like Store X Added program

Computer Dock-Print Kiosks

Department Area Do

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t

Mo

ve

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mo

ve

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U

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ou

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Business Office X

Events Management X

Custodial Office X

Marketing X

Bookstore Admin Offices

Copy Center Print Center X

Dining - Retail Commons- Seating X


Food Court X

Subway X

Panda Express X


Restaurant X

New Food Venue X

Greek Affairs X

ISSO X

Lecturers X

Lounge West Lounge X X

Main Lounge X X

Pride Lounge X X

Meeting Rooms Large

Small/Medium X X Added program-Level 5

MU Operations Hotel X

Hotel Desk X

Workspace X

Underground X

M-Shop X


Browsing Library

Chapel


Post Office X

Soults Family Visitors Center X


Student Orgs X

SUB X

Study Abroad X

Veterans Center X




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Department Area Do

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Re

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ve

Fro

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Re

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ou

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Business Office X

Events Management X

Custodial Office X

Marketing X

Bookstore Admin Offices X


Dining - Retail Commons- Seating X X


Food Court

Subway

Panda Express X


Restaurant X

New Food Venue X X

Greek Affairs X

ISSO X

Lecturers X

Lounge West Lounge X

Main Lounge X

Pride Lounge X

Meeting Rooms Large

Small/Medium X Added program+ existing


Hotel Desk X X

Workspace X

Underground X

M-Shop X


Browsing Library

Chapel


Post Office X



Student Orgs X

SUB X

Study Abroad X

Veterans Center X




Department Area Do

No

t

Mo

ve

Re

mo

ve

Fro

m M

U

Re

loc

ate

ou

t o

f M

U


Administration Director/Assistant Director Suite

Business Office

Events Management

Custodial Office

Marketing

Bookstore Admin Offices


Dining - Retail Commons- Seating


Food Court

Subway X

Panda Express X


Restaurant

New Food Venue X

Greek Affairs X

ISSO

Lecturers

Lounge West Lounge

Main Lounge

Pride Lounge

Meeting Rooms Large

Small/Medium X


Hotel Desk

Workspace X

Underground

M-Shop X

Multicultural Center X X

Browsing Library X

Chapel

New Student Programs

Post Office

Soults Family Visitors Center

Student Legal Services

Student Orgs X X

SUB X

Study Abroad X

Veterans Center

Help Desk

New MU-Market Like Store

Computer Dock-Print Kiosks X Added program

Stu

de

nt

Ch

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e -

Gro

up

3S

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Department Area Do

No

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Re

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Business Office X

Events Management X

Custodial Office

Marketing X



Dining - Retail Commons- Seating X X


Food Court

Subway X

Panda Express


Restaurant X

New Food Venue X

Greek Affairs X

ISSO X

Lecturers X


Main Lounge

Pride Lounge X

Meeting Rooms Large

Small/Medium X


Hotel Desk X

Workspace X

Underground X

M-Shop X


Browsing Library X

Chapel X


Post Office X


Student Legal Services

Student Orgs X Expand student office space

SUB X

Study Abroad X

Veterans Center X




Department Area Do

No

t

Mo

ve

Re

mo

ve

Fro

m M

U

Re

loc

ate

ou

t o

f M

U



Business Office X

Events Management X

Custodial Office X

Marketing X



Dining - Retail Commons- Seating


Food Court

Subway X

Panda Express X


Restaurant X

New Food Venue X

Greek Affairs X

ISSO X

Lecturers X


Main Lounge X

Pride Lounge X X

Meeting Rooms Large

Small/Medium X Expand student office space

MU Operations Hotel

Hotel Desk

Workspace X

Underground X

M-Shop X


Browsing Library X

Chapel X


Post Office X



Student Orgs X

SUB X

Study Abroad X

Veterans Center X




Stu

de

nt

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arr

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e -

Gro

up

6S

tud

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p 5

feasibility study...the memorial union feasibility study followed a process of discovery,...

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