Iowa State University Athletics
CYTown Work Begins
02.28.2023 | Athletics
AMES, Iowa – After months of diligent planning behind the scenes, Elder Corporation has started the first phase of Iowa State University's CyTown project.
"We are very excited about the positive impact CYTown will have on the Ames community and Iowa State University," said Iowa State Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard. "The energy behind this project has been far greater than we could have ever imagined. In addition, having the Elder Corporation working alongside us, led by a lifelong Cyclone fan in J. Elder II, gives us great confidence the first phase of this project will only strengthen the overall momentum of CYTown. The installation of the construction fences means that CYTown is officially starting, and that's really exciting for all of us!"
The first phase of the project will encompass long-overdue improvements to the parking lots between Jack Trice Stadium and the Iowa State Center. The project will begin with the D parking lots located on the east side along University Blvd., and continue into lots C5 and C6 on the south end near Jack Trice Stadium. All three parking lots are expected to be off-line until mid-August when they are scheduled to reopen ahead of the fall semester and the 2023 Cyclone football season. The first phase also encompasses lots A3, A4, B5 and B6, which will be completed in the second half of phase one.
Initially, the pavement in those lots will be stripped off and the utilities decommissioned, followed by the installation of the utility infrastructure needed to support CYTown, to include a storm water management system. As part of this process, more than 160,000 cubic yards of fill material will be brought on site to raise the building pads five feet above flood stage, which is two feet higher than the City of Ames requires by code.
When the parking lots re-open ahead of the 2023-24 academic year, in addition to the new surface and enhanced lighting systems for safety, patrons will notice the parking lots and stalls that will be configured at 90 degrees similar to the lots directly north of Hilton Coliseum, as opposed to the angle parking that has been in use since the Iowa State Center lots originally opened. In addition, 10-foot fire lanes will be embedded within each lot to create a safer environment for all users.
The bids for the project's first phase of the infrastructure work came in $5M under budget, and that savings, coupled with a generous private gift to the project, could allow the University to jump right into phase two of the infrastructure project immediately following the completion of phase one. The entire parking lot and CYTown utility infrastructure could potentially be completed within three years. CYTown's second phase, which includes parking lots A1, A2, B3, B4, C3 and C4, is anticipated to go before the Board of Regents this spring for approval.
"The University has worked with the Elder Corporation to develop an aggressive, yet reasonable construction timeline to complete phase one," Pollard said. "This plan also provides ample on-site parking for student and employee commuters, as well as for those attending events within the Iowa State Center."
With the infrastructure site work beginning in earnest, Pollard and his team continue to work with Cushman Wakefield to identify potential CYTown tenants, and develop plans and gather cost estimates on the hotel/convention center portion of the project.
