U of Iowa Floats Venue Reconstruction

Officials at the University of Iowa have issued a recommendation to rebuild the school’s Hancher Auditorium, which was damaged during the flooding of the Iowa River in 2008.

The university has estimated that a complete restoration of the 2,533-capacity venue could carry a $276 million price tag.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has reportedly committed to cover 90 percent of eligible costs, which would apparently include rebuilding the facility up a hill from its previous location on the river, seven feet above the high-water mark of the flood.

University president Sally Mason told the local Press-Citizen the recommendation reflected the input of a diverse group of constituents.

“After all of the discussion of what was available, these seemed like the logical and best choices,” Mason said. “From my perspective, this was a great solution to what was a disaster – a natural disaster.”

Mason told the paper the project could break ground within 12 to 18 months, with completion several years later.

However, permission to move forward on the project still rests with the Iowa Board of Regents. The board is expected to consider the recommendation at an upcoming meeting.