construction

Emerging from historic 2008 floods that devastated much of the arts campus at the University of Iowa, a new Hancher Auditorium and Voxman Music Building are near completion on the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City. Mortenson Construction acted as Construction Manager for both replacement facilities, which will open to the public later this summer, with students expected to start classes and performances at the venues this fall.

When the University of Iowa’s Hancher auditorium was devastated by the historic flooding of 2008, it was the beginning of an eight-year road to recovery that will culminate this fall in its grand re-opening. In the process, a new building was sited, designed, built and funded by the efforts of countless individuals. For Chuck Swanson, the executive director of Hancher, it was a journey that proved the resiliency the center’s legacy, as well as the people who make it work.

Wow! As superlatives go, that’s the one that comes immediately to mind stepping into the performance hall last week at the new Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City.

This week marks the eighth anniversary of the historic flood that devastated parts of Iowa City and the University of Iowa campus. In June 2008, the flood caused $230 million in damage and cleanup costs to the university. One-sixth of the campus buildings closed, with 20 sustaining damage. In celebration of several nearly completed flood-recovery projects, the Iowa City City Council voted June 6 to rename Clinton Street Inspiration Avenue for the 2016-17 school year.

A piece of Iowa City history -- restored after destruction. "It's exciting to be here," said Chuck Swanson, standing in the brand new Hancher Auditorium. Swanson, the auditorium's executive director, remembers the 2008 floods well. "Almost 8 years to the day, our original Hancher had padlocks put on the doors," he said. It never reopened. But this fall, a new 1,800 seat theater will replace it.

It's moving time at Hancher Auditorium. This week, workers started moving office supplies and art work into the new building. Work on the new Hancher has been going on for several years after the 2008 floods destroyed the old building.

The “slow birthing” of Hancher is in the final phase of labor. It’s not time for tuxes and sequins just yet. Hard hats, safety glasses and vests are still de rigueur, and some interior sections are still restricted, to accommodate the push to the Sept. 9 ribbon-cutting and public unveiling. But Wednesday marked an emotional milestone, as Executive Director Chuck Swanson and his staff started moving into the University of Iowa’s new $113 million state-of-the-art performing arts center.

Friday night (2/12/16) marks the end of an eight year, post-flood era for Hancher Auditorium. In 2008, a flood destroyed the auditorium's original structure. For the following eight years, Hancher has relied on venues and stages across the state to host performances as construction workers build a new $176 million, 192,000-square foot facility.

Hancher marks the end of their post-flood journey by closing out their 2015-16 season with the phenomenal 10-time Grammy winner Bobby McFerrin. McFerrin will be joined by local musicians Damani Phillips (saxophone), Rich Wagor (bass), Ed East (percussion), and members of Iowa City’s Zion Lutheran Choir. Executive Director Charles Swanson fills us in on McFerrin’s concert and Hancher’s plans to move into their new performing arts center post flood of 2008.

OPN Architects plans to open an office in Iowa City later this year, which leaders with the Cedar Rapids-based firm said will reaffirm the firm’s commitment to projects in the southern Corridor and Eastern Iowa. Since 2008, OPN has overseen several projects with the University of Iowa, perhaps most notably the new Hancher Auditorium, scheduled for completion sometime later this year. That project and others have contributed to a resurgence of development in the Corridor, which OPN Principal and President Daniel Thies believes will continue to generate additional work around Iowa City.