Panther Village (2010)

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Computer generated architectural sketch of Panther Village — Computer generated image of plans for Panther Village Phase 1 from InVision Architecture, April 2010, in the Morris E. Mikkelsen Papers, Box 3, #05/05/02/01 Folder Panther Village #1, 2012, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

During the 2009-2010 school year, Assistant Vice President and Executive Director of Residence Michael A. Hager promoted the feasibility of constructing additional on-campus housing. Specifically, he believed that UNI students wanted more close-in, apartment style residence halls. He cited several factors for his contention. First, he noted the age of existing apartment-style housing: the College Courts complex was over fifty years old and the Hillside Courts complex was almost forty years old. Second, he noted the loss of over two hundred beds when Shull Hall was converted to single rooms in 2004. Mr. Hager believed that demand for additional on-campus housing existed, even while the local private housing sector seemed to be showing an excess of housing units.

In May 2010, the Board of Regents approved schematic design plans for a new housing complex to be located south of the Regents Complex. InVison Architecture drew up plans for the complex, which would be developed in three phases. According to an article in the Waterloo Courier, the first phase would consist of about two hundred bedrooms in about sixty apartments. Each apartment unit would feature a common living room and kitchen. The first phase would cost about $19.5 million and might be available for students in the fall of 2012.

The second phase would require the demolition of College Courts. This phase would add about 474 beds The third phase would add about 134 beds. When all three phases are complete, Hillside Courts would likely no longer be used for student housing.

The total cost of all three phases was estimated at about $64 million. Funds for the project would come from residence system revenue bonds and the residence system budget.

Construction got underway in August 2010 and progressed well through the winter. In April 2011, Assistant Vice President Hager announced that the new complex would be named Panther Village. He stated that Phase I would be ready for occupancy by 204 students in the fall of 2012. Most apartments would have four students in single bedrooms with shared living, dining, and kitchen space. In an article in the Waterloo Courier, Vice President Hager stated:

The name embodies UNI pride and a sense of community for the new apartment complex south of Redeker Center. The residence community project was initiated to diversify housing inventory to meet needs of current and future students who are looking for a different level of independence in their housing while retaining all the academic and social advantages of living on campus.

Photo of Panther Village Unit 1 under construction — Photograph of Panther Village Unit 1 under construction, taken by Gerald L. Peterson, June 13, 2011, in the University of Northern Iowa Photograph Collection, BUI Box 25, BUI 62.01 Panther Village Folder 11, #23, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

Plans for the construction of Phase II were well underway long before Phase I was completed. The Department of Residence notified residents of College Courts, which were situated on the site where Phase II will be built, that College Courts units would be unavailable after the close of the 2011 spring semester. Demolition of College Courts got underway in June 2011.

Western half of College Courts being demolished with Panther Village under construction in the background — Photograph of the demolition of the western half of College Courts with Panther Village Phase 1 in the background, taken by Gerald L. Peterson, June 23, 2011, in the University of Northern Iowa Photograph Collection, BUI Box 19, BUI 50.02 Married Student Housing - Exterior Folder 3, #23, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

Plans call for Phase II of Panther Village to be ready for 246 students in the fall of 2013.

Photo of Panther Village Phase I under construction — Photograph of Panther Village Phase 1 under construction, taken by Gerald L. Peterson, June 13, 2011, in the University of Northern Iowa Photograph Collection, BUI Box 25, BUI 62.01 Panther Village Folder 11, #23, University Archives, Rod Library, University Archives.

After all of the rubble had been cleared from the College Courts site, the area was graded in August 2011. Construction on Phase II of the Panther Village complex got underway immediately afterward.

Photo of Panther Village Phase II construction site before construction began — Photograph of Panther Village Phase 2 construction site, taken by Gerald L. Peterson, July 24, 2011, in the University of Northern Iowa Photograph Collection, BUI Box 25, BUI 62.01 Panther Village Folder 11, #23, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

The University Art and Architecture Committee selected Lynn Basa to create the artwork for Panther Village. She had also been responsible for the artwork in the renovation of Sabin Hall. According to Vice President Michael Hager, Ms. Basa toured the UNI Department of Art facilities when she was on campus for her presentation. She was impressed by the quality of the facilities on campus and thought that she could fabricate much of her work there with the help of UNI students. Her Panther Village creation, Bower, is currently under construction in the UNI Department of Art sculpture laboratory.

Work on Phase I moved steadily during the fall of 2011 and during the very mild winter and spring of 2011-2012. Officials still planned for the building to be ready for occupancy in the fall of 2012. An article in the October 21, 2011, Northern Iowan stated that Phase I will include "a fitness room, elevators, study areas, an atrium, laundry rooms on each floor, a computer lab, and a meeting room." The building will be air-conditioned. Rooms will include some furniture and appliances. Residence staff believed that Panther Village could compete successfully with private, off-campus housing. In keeping with the campus emphasis on sustainability, the building is being constructed under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design guidelines. These are the same guidelines under which Sabin Hall was renovated.

In late March and early April of 2012, the former residential neighborhood on the southeast corner of Hudson Road and 31st Street was cleared of trees and houses in preparation for the construction of a parking lot for students living in university housing.

Photo of land being cleared for the Panther Village parking lots — Photograph of Panther Village parking lot construction site, taken by Gerald L. Peterson, April 9, 2012, in the University of Northern Iowa Photograph Collection, BUI Box 25, BUI 62.01 Panther Village Folder 11, #23, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

Photo of Professor Willis Wagner's house behind a pile of dirt and land that has been cleared for the Panther Village parking lot — Photograph of the area on the southeast corner of Hudson Road and 31st Street cleared for the Panther Village parking lot, including the home which belongs to Professor Willis Wagner, long-time member of the Industrial Technology faculty, taken by Gerald L. Peterson, April 9, 2012, in the University of Northern Iowa Photograph Collection, BUI Box 25, BUI 62.01 Panther Village Folder 11, #23, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

Essay by University Archivist Gerald L. Peterson, July 6, 2010; scanning by Library Assistant David Glime; last updated, April 13, 2012 (GP); photos and captions updated by Graduate Assistant Eliza Mussmann February 8, 2023.