On this page, you'll find descriptions of individual projects and overviews of the communities with which we've partnered.
Use the filter to search for kinds of projects, e.g., public art or engineering, or to locate a specific community.
Maquoketa River Watershed Management Plan
As part of their capstone project, second-year graduate students from the School of Planning & Public Affairs created a watershed management plan for the Maquoketa River Watershed.
Manchester Strategic Growth Plan
As part of their capstone project, second-year graduate students from the School of Planning & Public Affairs created a Strategic Growth Plan for the City of Manchester.
Lake View Community Center Engineering & Design
As part of their Senior Design Capstone course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students prepared a design and cost estimates for a Community Center in Lake View, Iowa.
Columbus Junction Community Storytelling Project, Part 2
Students from the School of Urban & Regional Planning course Community Development in the Upper Midwest interviewed several Chin Burmese residents of Columbus Junction to produce a short film about their sense of home in their new community.
Keokuk Downtown Historic Building Restoration Engineering & Design
As part of their Senior Design Capstone course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students created designs for refurbishing three commercial structures in downtown Keokuk.
Volga River Trail Development
As part of their Senior Design Capstone course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students created design alternatives for a trail system in Volga, Iowa.
Volga Old School and Gymnasium Retrofit Engineering & Design
As part of their Senior Design Capstone course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students created design alternatives for new uses of the former school building in Volga.
Volga Opera House Renovations Engineering & Design
As part of the Senior Design Capstone Course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students provided designs and cost estimates for the renovation of a historic opera house in Volga, Iowa.
Volga Pedestrian Bridge and Trail Engineering & Design
As part of the Senior Design Capstone Course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students provided designs and costs estimates for a pedestrian bridge spanning the Volga River, to replace a bridge that had been partially destroyed by flooding, as well as the trail connecting to the site.
Volga Fire Station Expansion Engineering & Design
As part of their Senior Design Capstone course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students created designs for a building expansion for the fire station in Volga, Iowa.
Volga Stormwater Management Engineering & Design
As part of their Senior Design Capstone course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students created designs stormwater management improvements to mitigate flooding issues in Volga.
Iowa City Downtown Historic Preservation Initiative
As part of their capstone project, second-year graduate students from the School of Urban & Regional Planning assessed current community interests, planning tools, and environmental needs to develop strategies for aligning preservation of Iowa City's unique historic downtown architecture with other community values.
Tama Comprehensive Plan
As part of their capstone project, second-year graduate students from the University of Iowa’s School of Urban & Regional Planning created a Comprehensive Plan for Tama, Iowa.
Manchester Water Source Protection Engineering & Design
As part of their Senior Design Capstone course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students created design alternatives for water source protection in areas within and surrounding Manchester, Iowa.
Manchester Site Development and Stormwater Management
As part of their Senior Design Capstone course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students created designs for development of a new residential neighborhood in Manchester, as well as a stormwater management plan for the site.
Essex Old School Building- Strategic Plan for Adaptive Reuse
As part of his graduate capstone project, Sports & Recreation management student Chris Gelhaus provided recommendations for the reuse of a historic school gymnasium in Essex, Iowa.
Essex, Iowa, is interested in the redevelopment and reuse of a gymnasium within town. The city is looking for a community center, focused primarily on creating public spaces, hosting programming for youth and adults, and holding public events.
Essex Old School Building- Design & Engineering for Adaptive Reuse
As part of their Senior Design Capstone course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students created design alternatives for new uses of the former school building in Essex, and provided specs and cost estimates for the final design.
Essex, Iowa, was interested in the redevelopment and reuse of a gymnasium within town. The city was looking for a community center, focused primarily on creating public spaces, hosting programming for youth and adults, and holding public events. The city was also interested in a storm shelter.
Treynor Pedestrian Infrastructure
As part of the Senior Design Capstone Course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students provided designs of pedestrian infrastructure and sidewalk connectivity for the city of Treynor, Iowa. The students also considered a redesign of the main street crossing. The students provided the city with plans for safe pedestrian crossing while maintaining farm vehicle access.
Sidney Safe Routes to School Trail Design
As part of the Senior Design Capstone Course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students identified trail route alternatives connecting the Sidney community to the Sidney High School located just outside of town, and provided the trail design and cost estimates for the selected route.
Schaller Rails to Trails Engineering
As part of their Senior Design Capstone course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students created design alternatives for a trail system in Schaller, Iowa. The trail site is located along an abandoned rail line within the city, and connects to the county trail system.