The facility was funded in part by contributions from alumni and friends of the College of Medicine, the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, the Sahai family of Webster City, and the Roland and Ruby Holden Family Foundation of Williamsburg. A new addition at the southeast corner of the Seamans Center for the Engineering Arts and Sciences opened for fall classes. The addition, which should be completed by fall 2001, provides facilities for teaching and research. Also, the complete interior renovation of the Biology Annex and construction of an addition to the biology complex were completed this year. Fire Safety Improvements in the Residence Halls Fire safety projects, which will eventually upgrade the fire protection systems in all the residence halls, continued during the 1999-2000 fiscal year.
All improvements exceed the requirements of the state fire code.
Mayflower's detection and sprinkler systems were completed. The new detection systems can specifically detect which smoke alarm has gone off. Staff receive notice at the residence halls' 24-hour information desks, and they have been trained on how to read the devices. The residents are now evacuated from buildings more quickly. The University of Iowa Research Foundation granted IDEC Pharmaceuticals Corp. exclusive worldwide license to use a UI discovery that may help treat prostate cancer.