Established by Board of Regents, State of Iowa, in October 1977

College of Design building first occupied in fall 1978

Building dedicated May 5, 1979

 

Student and Faculty Numbers
(source: Iowa State University Fact Book 2004-2005 and 2005-2006) 

Undergraduate:    1,753

Graduate:                148

 

Bachelor's:               304

Master's:                    47

 

Administration/Extension:  7

Architecture:  25.5

Art and Design:  33.5

Community and Regional Planning: 9

Landscape Architecture: 13

Total:  88 

History 

The College of Design opened in fall 1978, when four long-standing departments in other colleges at Iowa State University were brought together to create new, dynamic and collaborative experiences for everyone associated with the new college.

Architecture courses have been offered at Iowa State since the institution was established in 1858, although architecture began officially in 1914 as the department of structure design in the Division (College) of Engineering. Art and design has its roots in the first interior design course offered in 1901; the department of applied art was established in 1924 in the Division (College) of Home Economics (now Human Sciences) and became the department of art and design when it moved to the College of Design. Landscape architecture courses had been a part of the Division (College) of Agriculture since 1913, and landscape architecture had been its own department since 1929. Regional and urban planning classes offered in the landscape architecture department evolved into the department of urban planning and finally community and regional planning in the 1970s.

In the 27 years since the College of Design's inception, enhanced facilities and resources have necessitated expanding the college operation beyond the boundaries of the College of Design building. The college now occupies the main floor of the Armory as well as space in the Lab of Mechanics for undergraduate instruction. The college is searching for additional space for faculty offices and research.

 
During summer 1997, the vice provost for Extension moved Extension to Communities, a branch of University Extension, from the College of Agriculture to the College of Design. In early 2005 the college's associate dean for research and outreach was appointed director of Extension to Communities and Economic Development. This move holds the promise of furthering the college's agenda of integrating instructional and research programs with outreach to Iowa communities.