Inside Iowa State

July 24, 2008

Fisher-Nickell demolition set for early August

by Diana Pounds

Fisher-Nickell Hall, a small building that's inhabited the east side of Richardson Court for a half century, will come down in early August.

Removal of the building will allow crews to put finishing touches on the grounds of the Hixson-Lied Success Center, which opened in 2007. Fisher-Nickell is just north of the new center. After the old building is razed, a small parking lot and service court will be added to the site, and landscaping will be completed.

Once a home management facility

Fisher-Nickell was built in 1952 to serve as a "home management" facility. Home economics majors lived in the house and got real hands-on experience -- they made budgets, cooked, cleaned and even cared for orphaned infants, prior to adoption. The orphan care program was discontinued in the late '50s and in the ensuing years, Fisher-Nickell housed a succession of temporary occupants, including College of Education administrators, international students, and most recently, the Alumni Association.

The old building has a "number of serious deficiencies" and it's not practical to make changes and repairs, said Dean McCormick, assistant director in facilities planning and management.

With the Alumni Association's recent move to the new Alumni Center, Fisher-Nickell is unoccupied, and crews are preparing for demolition.

Tentative demolition start: Aug. 7

The building will be razed, using large equipment such as backhoes and bulldozers, McCormick said. The razing tentatively is planned for Aug. 7 and should be completed within a couple of days.

"We plan to get the demolition done and heavy equipment out of there before students return," McCormick added.

Fisher-Nickell Hall, built in 1952, will be razed in early August. The building site will be converted to a small parking lot and landscaped grounds for the Hixson-Lied Success Center.