University of Iowa

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Tours

1. Campus Walking Tour

   Explore the University of Iowa with this walking tour of the east side of campus.

   Stops

   1. Admission Visitors Center

      The Pomerantz Center is home to the Admissions Visitors Center, the Academic Advising Center, and the Pomerantz Career Center. Students can find assistance with schedule planning with their advisor as well as career exploration with one of our career counselors.

      Next is the John Pappajohn Business Building, named for John Pappajohn, Venture Capitalist from Des Moines. It is home to the Pomerantz Business Library, ITC, and John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC).

      Also home to the Tippie College of Business, Tippie was named for Henry B. Tippie. In 1999, donated in excess of $30 million to the College.

   2. Pentacrest

      The Pentacrest is the heart of our campus. The Old Capitol, at the center of the Pentacrest, and four adjacent buildings are the reason for the name. Most students will take at least one of their classes in these buildings. Many Hawkeyes also use the green space to meet up with friends, study, and take pictures of a perfect sunset. 

   3. Iowa Avenue

      Located on Iowa Avenue you will find additional academic buildings including the Biology Building and the new Psychological and Brain Sciences Building. 
      
      

      The Psychological and Brain Sciences Building (PBSB) opened in January 2020. The new building is connected on each floor with the Spence Laboratories of Psychology, which continues to house laboratories for conducting research.
      
      

      Campus flows seamlessly into downtown, blending academic and community. Iowa City is the best college town in America, and it's easy to see why. With locally owned shops, restaurants, and businesses, there is plenty of opportunities for Iowa students to engage with their town.

   4. Downtown Iowa City

      Iowa City is considered one of the best places to live in the country and one of the best college town in the United States.
      
      

      Our campus seamlessly blends into downtown Iowa City, which makes it easy to get wherever you need to go. The center of it all is just across the street from a lively downtown with all the restaurants, entertainment, and amenities you'd find in a big city.
      
      

      Iowa City is both a destination for artists from around the world and the home of Hawkeye sports. Whatever you're interested in, there's a place for you in Iowa City. 

   5. Voxman Music Building

      Our University of Iowa School of Music is housed within the state-of-the-art Voxman Music Building.
      
      

      Built in 2016, the 190,000 square-foot space includes a 700-seat concert hall, 200-seat recital hall, organ performance hall, opera and chamber music rehearsal spaces, faculty studios, classrooms, practice rooms, electronic music and recording studios, and a student commons, where you can study, compose music, or meet over coffee with a professor. 
      
      

      This creates dynamic learning spaces and breathtaking stages for the School of Music's 350-plus yearly public performances and presentations, which are free to UI students. 

   6. Campus Recreation and Wellness Center

      Just down the hill is the CRWC. This impressive 20,000-square-foot building has three levels of exercise equipment, a three-story climbing wall, an olympic-sized swimming pool and diving well, steam room, spa, and a smoothie cafe! The facility has earned awards from multiple sources.

   7. Stanley Museum of Art

      Nestled between the Main Library and Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, the new Stanley Museum of Art is a hub of learning and research for the University of Iowa.
      
      The three-story, state-of-the-art building includes a range of flexible spaces for research, education, and exhibitions, and is ideally suited to serve as a center for interdisciplinary teaching, discovery, and community building.

   8. Seamans Center for Engineering Arts and Sciences

      The Seamans Center for the Engineering Arts and Sciences is home to our University of Iowa College of Engineering. 
      
      

      The building includes state-of-the-art classroom, research, and study spaces. The facility allows our engineering students to have an increased focus on hands-on training and skills building, as well as enhanced instruction and mentoring.  

   9. Main Library

      The University of Iowa Main Library is one of eight libraries on campus serving Hawkeyes. 
      
      

      Open 24-hours, 5 days a week during the fall and spring semesters, the Main Library is one of the best places on campus to study, research, and write. 
      
      

      The Learning Commons is housed on the first floor and is open 24 hours a day, Sunday-Thursday during the academic year. It is a 37,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art study space for students. There are 18 group study rooms designed for collaboration and the "Food for Thought" cafe to keep your energy up during intense study sessions.

   10. Adler Journalism and Mass Communication Building

       Here you will find the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, the Daily Iowan (Iowa's student newspaper), the Iowa High School Press Association, and the Quill and Scroll Society located here, as well as classrooms, offices, and a lecture hall.

   11. Old Capitol Overlook

       The Old Capitol’s history began as the seat of the territorial government of Iowa. It became the University’s first permanent building in 1857 when the state legislature moved to Des Moines. In addition to being the administrative center of the University, at various times it was also the home of the law school, the library, a museum, a dormitory, and even a gymnasium. Today, it is the home of the Old Capitol Museum and serves as the centerpiece of campus.
       
       

       Looking across the Iowa River, you will also see the west side of campus. Home to many of our graduate programs including health sciences, law, and public health, you will also find residence halls and Kinnick Stadium.

   12. Iowa Memorial Union

       Since 1923, the Iowa Memorial Union (IMU) has been at the center of campus life at the University of Iowa.
       
       Thousands of students, faculty, and staff visit the IMU every day. At the IMU students meet up, study, join student organizations, attend events, concerts, and lectures, and more. Hundreds of student activities and organizations are facilitated by the IMU's Center for Student Involvement & Leadership. 
       
       

       The ground floor of the IMU is also home to our Iowa Hawk Shop, the official University of Iowa bookstore. The ground floor also features a food court, coffee shop, and convenience store.
       
       

       Students have 24-hour access to the IMU, taking advantage of the numerous lounges and study spaces.