Univ. of Northern Iowa celebrates completion of Applied Engineering Building renovation

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (KCRG) - A nearly three-year renovation project to help meet workforce demand in Iowa is complete.

The University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls cut the ribbon on its newly renovated Applied Engineering Building on March 28.

The project expanded the building by 40,000 square feet to include a laboratory and collaborative learning spaces, while an additional 60,000 square feet of existing space is completely renovated.

UNI works with industry partners like construction companies and John Deere to ensure its programs are aligned with their hiring needs.

“John Deere currently employs over 1200 UNI alumni, including 24 students from last year’s class and over 90 part-time students,” said Fabio Castro with John Deere Waterloo Works.

The AEB is funded by a $40 million investment from the state, along with $3 million so far in private donations. UNI is still fundraising to meet the goal of securing more than $4 million in private support for the project.

UNI students will get hands-on experience in their first year of studies.

“We’re not here to celebrate a building. We’re here to celebrate what that building will do for countless generations of students here on our campus, and the way it’ll serve faculty and staff members here on our campus, and what those students will do when they graduate from here,” said UNI President Mark Nook.

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