AMES, Iowa -- The Board of Regents, State of Iowa, on Tuesday (Sept. 18) approved Iowa State University's request to name the College of Design Foundations Pavilion the King Pavilion. The name recognizes alumni Steven and Barbara King, Maple Plain, Minn., who provided the lead commitment of $1.5 million for the new $6.25 million facility. Ceremonial groundbreaking for the 23,500-gross-square-foot addition was Sept. 7.
The Kings graduated from Iowa State in 1968. Steve received a bachelor of landscape architecture degree, and Barb received a bachelor's degree in food science. In 1971, they founded Landscape Structures Inc., an innovative children's play equipment company based in Delano, Minn. The company is now an industry leader in safe, sustainable design practices.
Construction will begin later this year on the facility, which is expected to be in use spring semester 2009. The first new "green" structure on campus, the two-story King Pavilion will use energy-saving techniques such as natural ventilation, daylighting, storm-water control with a "living" roof, unique site design and recycled building materials.
"We're so proud to be Iowa State alums and to contribute to the new pavilion," Steve King said. "The green aspect of the building was a major objective of ours since we so sincerely believe in the sustainability of our planet."
The King Pavilion will provide critically needed space for instructional studios. In addition to 15 classrooms, it will include a two-story forum, break-out lecture and critique spaces, and additional work space. The facility will be home primarily to freshman in the college's Core Design Program, as well as sophomore in the first year of their professional programs.
In his remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony, College of Design Dean Mark Engelbrecht said, "This pavilion will make our academic community whole, providing space on one site. It also addresses the sustainability of our larger, global community and the stewardship of the planet.
"We want this addition to reinforce every day the obligations we have as artists and designers to this important mission. The pavilion is intended to provide a useful tool for teaching and learning about sustainable practice, a tradition that I hope will become a defining characteristic of our community."
Additional information about the College of Design's King Pavilion is at http://www.design.iastate.edu/KingPavilion and
