A substantial makeover is underway for Iowa State University’s 66-year-old LeBaron Hall.

Demolition started Thursday, Sept. 5 to make way for the new home of Iowa State’s College of Human Sciences.

Bundled with additional renovations of McKay Hall and the Human Nutritional Science Building, the estimated $51.5 million project will replace LeBaron Hall, complete with a three-story building with classrooms, a multipurpose courtyard and renovated lobbies.

LeBaron Hall’s demolition and replacement will cost $39 million. The entire project was made possible through private donations, including a $15.5 million lead gift, and university funds.

More: ISU, Alliant Energy solar farm caretakers showcase agrivoltaics results

A groundbreaking moment

The groundbreaking for LeBaron Hall’s makeover took place on April 18.

Iowa State College of Human Sciences Dean Laura Dunn Jolly said the university is excited to see the project get underway.

“This has been something we’ve been working on for several years, and it’s really exciting to see it come to life,” Jolly said. “Students are just thrilled; they’ve been walking by, taking videos of the building coming down. There’s a lot of buzz about this new building coming to fruition.”

Construction is expected to be finished by the fall of 2026.

More: End of a spooky era: Ames Haunted Forest permanently closes after over 20 years of scares

A new, modern LeBaron Hall

The new LeBaron Hall will be located on the northwest corner of the Iowa State campus at 626 Morrill Road. The original building, built in 1958, will be expanded to 30,000 square feet, complete with two additional above-ground floors.

The new facility will include a 100-seat university classroom, studios for the college’s nationally ranked apparel program, experiential learning space for the event management program, and a historic textiles and clothing lab.

“(There will be) a lot of what I would call multi-purpose, experiential learning space,” Jolly said. “That’s been our goal, this welcoming and student-centric space that serves as a hub for student engagement.”

McKay Hall will eventually be connected to LeBaron Hall, LeBaron Auditorium and the Human Nutrition and Science Building. Once complete, Jolly said it will be a “very integrated complex” with improved wayfinding.

“We expect other renovations to follow pretty quickly after the initial building renovation,” Jolly said. “That will set the stage for moving forward with the other projects.”

More: Ames’ $4 million Schainker Plaza expected to open in October despite skating rink issues

Where will classes be held during construction?

Classes and laboratories that are typically held at LeBaron Hall have been moved to the Student Innovation Center, McKay Hall and Bessey Hall.

Jolly said Iowa State is considering what the future use of those spaces will be when classes return to LeBaron Hall.

Since the new facility will have no faculty offices, LeBaron Hall’s faculty has been relocated to other permanent locations.

More: Ames eyes $1.4 million, six-charger electric vehicle charging station south of Hwy. 30

Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.