IOWA The University of Iowa regents have approved a $75-million makeover of the Iowa Memorial Union, which was damaged by a flood in 2008. The four-story, 340,000-sq-ft building will be refurbished to include the campus bookstore, expanded food service and a six-lane bowling alley. Flood mitigation and ground-floor refurbishing, including student lounge space, food service and shells for outside vendors will cost $53 million. Another $22 million will be for deferred maintenance, including a new sprinkler system, a new roof and upgrades to meet Disabilities Act standards. No contractor has been chosen yet. University of Iowa, Attn: Rod Lehnertz, project manager, Planning, Design, and Construction Dept., 210 Univer-sity Services Building, Iowa City, 52242.
MINNESOTA The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul currently comprises four venues: the 1,900-seat Music Theater, the 315-seat McKnight Theatre and two large rehearsal halls. Ordway plans to replace the McKnight Theatre with a 1,100-seat music venue. Construction is scheduled to start in 2012. AGA designed the expansion, and McGough has been selected as the general contractor. The estimated construction cost is $35 million. McGough, 2737 Fairview Ave. N., St. Paul, 55113.