The last traditional residence hall built at Iowa State University was Martin Hall in 2003. Since then, enrollment has grown by the thousands.
Today marked the grand opening of a new residence hall. Geoffroy Hall is named for President Emeritus Gregory L. Geoffroy, who led he university from 2001-2012. The university's 14th president had tremendous
impact on the expansion of the university, including a dozen major building projects, record enrollment and sponsored funding levels at the time, and a capital campaign that raised more than $800 million and doubled endowed faculty positions. Geoffroy also launched a grassroots fundraising effort to save and renovate Morrill Hall.
The design of $47.3 million, eight-story, 784-bed residence hall was student
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driven.
"We are grateful to dozens of student leaders who served on the Inter Residence Hall Association," said
Pete Englin, director for the Department of Residence. "They spearheaded the student-centered building design."
The students sought a traditional hall with faster elevators, bigger rooms, bathrooms that offered more privacy, and a lot of common space for collaboration. The main floor
has a central front desk, 15 study rooms, computer lab, activity room, kitchen, lounge, and laundry room.
Students moved in at the start of spring semester and a ribbon cutting ceremony was held this morning to dedicate the new building. President Emeritus Gregory L. Geoffroy, President Steven Leath, Residence Director Pete Englin, and student representatives were present for the event.
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