KTIV, IA
06-20-07
Design College Gets Ready to Open
Sioux City is already home to several colleges and universities. But, come this
fall, you can add another one to the list. It's a school specializing in design and
architecture. And it's right in the middle of downtown.
100 years ago the building wasn't a college, but, rather a boiler plant. It's when
you step inside that you can see the future taking shape.
Nathan Kalaher, Designer, says "It's been empty for 80 years."
Despite its smoke stack standing in the sky, this old boiler building was a
forgotten piece of the past. Built in 1890, this plant kept business booming along
Historic 4th.
Kalaher says "This is one of the tunnels that's been capped up, which you'll find
around the lower level of this building and each of these tunnels lead to a
different building and would feed hot air to them underground through these
tunnels."
Now crews are welding together the past with the present, to bring this building
into the 21st century.
Kalaher says "We really needed to show as much of the historic facility as
possible. So, we're really viewing this as a way of displaying the historic building
in a very contemporary way."
The original brickwork was re-mortared and left intact. Mixed in, though, are
modern touches, like an elevator and concrete staircases. Architect Nathan
Kalaher also removed part of the first floor to create an atrium near the front
windows.
Kalaher says "And allow south daylight to hit every aspect of the building on both
levels underground as well."
The roadway in front of the building won't be your typical alley anymore. They're
going to cover each of the manholes with Plexiglas, allowing light to stream in
during the day and at night you can look down and see a piece of art illuminated
under each of the four manholes."
Kalaher says "And it's really a fun space because it shows the building larger
below ground that it is above ground, which is sort of fun."
This will be campus to 40 students who are enrolled in Iowa State University
architecture and design classes. On the top floor, a reading room, lecture hall,
bathrooms and administrative offices. On the bottom, the studio and gallery.
Students' work will also stack up this 30 foot tall display wall.
Kalaher says "We're trying to find a way that's kind of modern and hip and really
works with the program pretty well."
An old building that's been given a second chance to showcase Sioux City.
The architect says the name of the facility will appear on the smoke stack. But,
officials aren't releasing the name just yet.
Construction is expected to wrap up in about a month, with classes starting up
with the fall semester.