College Courts (1955)

The new units were meant to supplement and eventually replace housing in Sunset Village. Sunset Village was built 1946-1947 from postwar military surplus corrugated steel buildings and Quonset huts; homes used oil heaters as their main heat source. It was intended to only be in use for five years, but continued to house students and families beyond its expected lifespan. 

E. E. Cole, superintendent of the campus Physical Plant, designed the new units. The building site was in the southwest corner of campus. In contrast to Sunset Village, the units would be made of concrete block and heated by forced air gas furnaces. The kitchens were equipped with gas stoves and electric refrigerators, and there were play areas for children. Tenants would pay for utilities. Each unit would have two bedrooms, a living room, and a combined kitchen and dining area. Each bedroom would be about 11 x 10 feet, the kitchen/dining area about 12 x 12 feet, the living room about 18 x 12 feet, and the bathroom about 5 x 8 feet.

The contractor met an adjusted completion date, and families occupied the new units in December 1956. In February 1957, the Alumnus newsletter noted "The passing of an era was heralded this winter at ISTC as a dozen new duplex housing units for married students were occupied, paving the way for the ultimate replacement of Sunset Village” and included information about the "brightly colored assortment of sturdy, pleasant houses" in College Courts. However, students remained living in Sunset Village units until August 1972.

In spring 1958, construction of a second set of 12 duplexes, very similar to the first 12, was approved. This set was designed by architects Grow and Devoe of Cedar Falls and cost around $171,000 to construct. They were ready for occupancy on January 22, 1959.

Monthly rent in 1967 was $62 and was raised to $80 per month by 1974. All married student housing remained at a very high rate of occupancy. The buildings were painted and repaired in 1981 in a $30,000 project.

In summer 2002, College Courts roads were reconfigured and replaced to fix damage as a result of disrepair. The new configuration attempted both to limit and slow through traffic with a system of one-way streets. 

Following hail and windstorms, the units received new roofs in 2010. In spring 2011, College Courts residents were notified leases would not be renewed for the following semester. College Courts would be demolished to make way for Phase II of the Panther Village apartment-style housing complex. By late May 2011, the last residents of College Courts units had moved out. Crews then began to clear the units of salvageable material and work on asbestos abatement procedures in preparation for the demolition of College Courts.

Demolition of College Courts began during the week of June 20, 2011. The western half of the complex was demolished first. The eastern portion of College Courts was demolished during the week of July 11, 2011. Foundations of the housing units were removed and the area was graded during the week of July 18, 2011.