When the doors to the College of Design opened in 1978, nearly 2,000 students spent their days (and nights) in the new facility although it was designed for only 1,600. Since then, many areas have been remodeled and upgraded to maintain a high-quality learning environment and make the best use of limited space, while student enrollments continue to exceed capacity. Recent additions include the Kocimski Auditorium, Cowles Design X.PoRT, Design Cafe, GIS Graduate Laboratory, three art studios and a series of review spaces. With the exception of the auditorium and studios, which were added on to the building, these new areas were developed within the walls of the original college facility. Many of these enhancements were completed with generous contributions from alumni and friends.

We now have adapted virtually every inch of available space for practical use. For several years, in fact, as many as 600 freshmen have spent their studio time in the deteriorating Armory building because there simply isn't room in the college itself. Desiring to serve all students better under one roof, the College of Design began a private fund-raising campaign to support construction of a building addition. This campaign also seeks increased support to recruit and retain top-notch design faculty, expand and enhance the college's research and outreach capabilities, provide scholarships for students studying in the college's Rome Program, and increase operational funding for the Rome Program to match the rising costs of maintaining the program and facilities internationally.

 

 

We are fortunate to have talented, enthusiastic faculty members who daily share their expertise and creativity with students and colleagues. Building on our existing strengths and expanding our offerings in new program areas, several new faculty recently joined the college to provide students with access to study in multimedia design and animation, geographic information systems, landscape ecology, design history, and enhanced undergraduate foundations education. These faculty are helping transform the college's research and teaching to focus on multidisciplinary learning, creation and engagement in studio courses for undergraduate and graduate students.

 

Endowed professorships and fellowships will recognize and reward these educators, and provide critical support for their teaching and research efforts. Such awards will help us recruit excellent candidates to Iowa State University, and will help us retain valuable faculty who contribute to the college's innovative design atmosphere.

 

The Institute for Design Research and Outreach (IDRO) provides a platform for the college to extend its research, extension and distance-education functions. IDRO helps faculty connect studio classes to the needs of local communities. It provides staff support and financial assistance for faculty to develop and deliver distance-education courses. It offers the public a central point through which extension assistance may be requested and received.

 

To meet the evolving needs of the college, an endowed fund to support IDRO will be established. The fund will seed faculty efforts and student participation in piloting innovative educational opportunities. It will expand faculty and students' capability to respond to society's evolving needs.

 

Vast cultural knowledge and experience are critical in today's global society. Professionals and companies require cultural understanding to effectively conduct everyday business. The College of Design helps meet this need through its study abroad program in Rome, Italy.

 

Already touching the lives of more than 150 students and 10 faculty each year, the Rome Program offers an opportunity of a lifetime: immersion in the historical roots of design. This collegewide program is based in the historic Palazzo Cenci in the heart of Rome. While earning credit toward their degrees, all design students are offered the opportunity to experience Rome as well as other significant cities and regions throughout Europe. The college will establish an endowed fund to support student scholarships for this program in addition to establishing a fund to support the rising costs of maintaining a program and facilities internationally.