Housing Areas and Description

For most groups staying under two weeks, housing accommodations are typically offered in two of our housing areas (neighborhoods) – Richardson Court and Union Drive.

Richardson Court Residence Halls are located on the east side of campus, south of the Lied Recreation Center and north of the Iowa State Center. These halls include three air-conditioned high-rise buildings (Maple, Willow, and Larch) with an approximate capacity of 1,500 people total. Also included are smaller non-air-conditioned low-rise buildings which are Oak-Elm (approximate capacity of 400 people), Linden (approximate capacity of 300 people), Birch-Welch-Roberts (approximate total capacity of 475 people) and Barton, Lyon, and Freeman (approximate capacity of 100 people each).

Union Drive Residence Halls are located on the southwest side of campus within short walking distance of many academic buildings. Two smaller (approximately 300 people each), low-rise residence halls (Martin and Eaton) offer air-conditioned, suite-style housing. Friley is a large (approximate capacity of 1,150 people), low-rise residence hall in which most rooms are air-conditioned. Helser is a large (approximate capacity of 700 people), low-rise residence halls with non air-conditioned rooms.

When Richardson Court and Union Drive are filled, additional residence halls are used. South Campus Residence Halls are located just south of Lincoln Way and the Memorial Union. Geoffroy is an air-conditioned high-rise building with an approximate capacity of 750 people. Buchanan Hall is an air-conditioned high-rise building with an approximate capacity of 400 people. Further to the south near Storm Street and between Hayward Avenue and Welch Avenue, are Wallace and Wilson which are non air-conditioned high-rise buildings with an approximate capacity of 250 people in Wallace and 525 in Wilson.

Our Frederiksen Court apartment community is another area sometimes used for larger conference groups (typically over 4,500 people). These apartments are located on the north side of campus. These air-conditioned, low-rise apartment buildings accommodate four guests in either four-bedroom or two-bedroom apartments.

The majority of residence hall rooms are double-occupancy sleeping rooms, with some single-occupancy and a few triple-occupancy rooms available. If single-occupancy rooms are requested, guests may be assigned to either a single-occupancy room or alone to a double-occupancy room. For youth groups requesting a triple-occupancy room in advance, a cot may be temporarily added to a double-occupancy room (a limited number of cots are available in the residence halls).

Room furnishings typically include a lofted twin (single) bed for each occupant, desk, chair, storage drawers, closet space, window coverings, and wastebasket. Residence halls and the two-bedroom apartments in Frederiksen Court have lofted beds. A lofted bed is raised high enough for a desk with bookshelves to be placed underneath; lofted furniture must remain as originally set. Some residence hall areas used to house guests with special needs may be de-lofted if arrangements are made in advance.  For further descriptions of specific residence halls and apartments, see Maps and Building Descriptions.

Linen Options

In all residence halls and Frederiksen Court apartments, a No Service option is available. When the No Service option is selected, linens, towels, and soap are not supplied.

The Standard Service option for linens provides each guest with sheets, pillow, pillowcase, blanket, two towels, one washcloth, and soap. Beds are not made. Towel exchange in the residence halls is available daily at a centralized location. For groups staying over 10 nights, a change of bed linen is included.

Rates for Housing

Housing rates for a typical group arranged through one sponsor for 1,000 or fewer people are:

Rates for the upcoming summer will be posted in approximately January of each year. For information on rates in other residence halls, Frederiksen Court apartments, for groups numbering over 1,000, special circumstances, or estimates for future summers, consult with Conference Services Staff.

Keys, Keycards, and Building Access Hours

At check-in for the residence halls, each guest will be issued a key holder containing a room key and a keycard to access their building’s exterior doors. For Frederiksen Court apartments, each guest is issued a key holder containing an apartment key, bedroom key, and a keycard to access their apartment building’s exterior doors. Doors and other access points utilizing a keycard may be accessed by slowly passing the keycard in front of the keycard readers located near the entry point.

ISU apartments and residence hall entry is limited to residents and their guests. The doors to all residence halls are locked from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., Monday through Friday. At 7:00 a.m. the main entrance of each hall becomes unlocked. Entry outside of that twelve-hour period or at any of the other hall entrances in controlled by keycard access.

Frederiksen Court Apartment buildings are unlocked from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Sunday. Outside of that twelve-hour window, entrance is controlled by keycard access.

If a key, keycard, or keyholder is lost, replacements can be purchased with identification at the appropriate conference desk. Residence hall replacement costs are: $122 for each room/suite key, $10 for each keycard, and $3 for each keyholder. Frederiksen Court apartment replacement costs are: $144 for each apartment key, $18 for each bedroom key, $10 for each keycard, and $3 for each keyholder. Rates for each summer are available approximately January of each year.

Group sponsors should promote security within their group by reminding participants to keep their doors locked at all times (even if going down the hall for “just a minute”), to carry their room key and keycard with them at all times, and to not prop doors open.

Bathrooms

Most residence halls have group-style (community-style) bathrooms, with multiple sinks, toilets, and partitioned shower stalls. In areas with group-style bathrooms, male and female guests will be assigned to different bathrooms.

Maple Hall has individual bathrooms and individual shower rooms located in the center area of each floor, providing complete privacy during occupancy. Martin and Eaton Halls have suite-style bathrooms used only by occupants of the same suite (typically two rooms share the bathroom within the suite). Buchanan Hall has suite-style bathrooms only used by occupants of the same suite (typically two rooms share the bathroom within the suite). Each Frederiksen Court apartment has a bathroom area with two sinks and one private shower and toilet (with lockable doors, sometimes combined).

For more information on bathrooms within specific halls, see Maps and Building Descriptions.

Dens

During the fall and spring semesters, rooms within each residence hall building are also referenced by a “house” name. In our low-rise buildings, this is usually a group of approximately 30 rooms. In our high-rise buildings, a floor typically equates to either one or two “houses”.  Each house may be distinguished by unique decor in some houses, and house signs on the exterior of the buildings.

Each house has a den (a small lounge), furnished by the Department of Residence. Typical furnishings include sofas, armchairs, small tables and accompanying chairs.  Academic-year students may further equip their dens with house-purchased equipment (such as a TV, media equipment, etc.), which is typically removed during the summer. During the summer, conference groups occupying the house area may use the house den for lounging or casual gatherings without additional cost. Some halls equipped with keycard access may require use of a keycard with appropriate access to enter the den.

Security Telephones

A security phone is located in each hallway near the house den and outside the main exterior entrances to each residence hall. These will be active for emergency calls.

Frederiksen Court a security phone is located outside the main exterior entrance to each apartment building. These will be active for emergency and local calls.

Information provided in each guest room will describe dialing procedures.

Internet and Wireless Access for Guests

All residence halls and Frederiksen Court apartments are wireless. Guest access to the internet through the ISU campus network is a service provided by Information Technology Services at ISU. This service allows visitors temporary access to the internet to browse the Web and check their e-mail. Initial guest access is 7 days and after the 7-day period, visitors will not be able to re-register for guest access for 90 days. Steps to use the guest access are:

Parking

In the Richardson Court Residence Halls, parking passes will be available for guests in Lot 63, which is located just north of the Maple-Willow-Larch Commons.

In South Campus Residence Halls, parking passes will be available for guests in Lot 62, which is located just south of Buchanan and Geoffroy Halls. If this lot were to become filled, the alternate lot for guests will be Lot 63, which is located just north of the Maple-Willow-Larch Commons. Near the Wallace and Wilson Halls, a parking location will be assigned near these buildings.

In Union Drive Residence Halls, short-term parking will be available for drop-off and pick-up only. Longer-term parking would be available in the Memorial Union Parking Ramp or at the Ames Intermodal Facility (parking fees would apply).

For those staying in Frederiksen Court Apartments, arrangements may be made in advance through Conference Services Staff for parking in designated Frederiksen Court lots. Currently, a parking permit would be required for a minimal fee.

Laundry Facilities

Laundry facilities are available within each residence hall. Washer and dryers are operated with the Speed Queen app (download through Google Play or Apple Store). With the app, you can view available machines, know when your laundry is done and pay! You load money in to the app using a credit or debit card and you’re good to go! Our school code is IOWAST. Costs are $0.75/wash and $0.75/for drying. Frederiksen Court apartments are furnished with a washer and dryer that do not require payment. Laundry supplies are sold at Markets located in the residence hall neighborhoods and Frederiksen Court Community Center.

Meeting Rooms

During the summer, a variety of Meeting Rooms such as small or medium conference rooms and large lounges in the residence halls are available for rental by conference groups. Consult with Conference Services Staff about your activity needs to find the most suitable, available space.

Conference Desks

The Maple-Willow-Larch (MWL) Conference Desk provides services to the residents of Maple, Willow, Larch and other residence halls on the east side of campus. The Conference Desk is located on the second level of the MWL Commons. The Conference Desk can be reached at 515-294-8401 (dial 4-8401 if calling from a campus phone). Typical desk hours are 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. every day when guests were living in the area. For after-hours assistance phone number will be available and posted at the desk.

The Martin Conference Desk provides services to the residents of Friley, Helser, Martin, and Eaton Halls on the west side of campus.  The Martin Conference Desk is in room 2104 Martin by the east entrance to the building. The Conference Desk can be reached at 515-294-7117 (dial 4-7117 if calling from a campus phone). Typical desk hours are 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. every day when guests were living in the area. For after-hours assistance phone number will be available and posted at the desk.

During designated times when Geoffroy Hall is occupied, the Geoffroy Conference Desk may be open to provide services to the residents of Geoffroy and Buchanan Halls. The Conference Desk is located in the center of the ground level of Geoffroy Hall (adjacent to Buchanan Hall).  When open, the Conference Desk can be reached at 515-294-6172 (dial 4-6172 if calling from a campus phone).  Summer desk hours will be determined based on group occupancy and needs of the group. For after-hours assistance phone number will be available and posted at the desk..

During large conferences, additional desks may be open in other areas. Service hours will be adjusted as needed and publicized to sponsors.

Summer Conference Staff are eager to help serve the guests in our halls. Facilities issues may be reported to the staff at the Desks. For any additional information and assistance please see Conference Service Staff at the desk.

Youth Groups

All programs for participants under the age of 18 are subject to the Youth Activities, Pre-Collegiate Programs and Camps policy and procedures and the Reporting Responsibilities – Violations policy and procedures on the ISU Policy Library website.  Sponsor must agree to follow these policies and review the resources and procedures, (including but not limited to procedures regarding background checks).

The Sponsor agrees to perform a background check on all personnel including volunteers working at a Youth Program on ISU property in accordance with the Youth Activities, Pre-Collegiate Programs and Camps policy and procedures. At minimum, the background check shall include checking the National Sex Offender Registry. An individual who has been convicted of an offense for which he/she must register with the Iowa or National Sex Offender Registry may not serve as in any capacity for a youth program at ISU.

All youth programs are required to have adult chaperones (18 years of age or older). According to the American Camp Association (ACA), the number of chaperones required may vary, and the ratio is determined by age and special needs. Minimum ACA-recommended ratios are: One chaperone for every five participants 5 and younger; one chaperone for every six participants ages 6 to 8; one chaperone for every eight participants ages 9 to 14; and one chaperone for every ten participants ages 15 to 17. Exceptions may be granted by the Department of Residence upon consultation with ISU’s Office of Risk Management.

Sponsors will be required to distribute current Chaperone Information and Expectations for Youth Groups to all chaperones and identify minors under the supervision of each chaperone.

Programs with a majority of participants under 18 years of age require a short presentation by the Sponsor’s staff to the Sponsor’s participants and chaperones.  Sponsor’s staff will explain behavior expectations and Department regulations as given to them by Department staff in writing.  The presentation must be held no later than 10 p.m. on the day participants check-in.  The time should be scheduled within 30 minutes after the end of the check-in period, or at 9:30 p.m. on check-in day.

Sponsors will be required to have every minor child unaccompanied by a legal guardian provide the Sponsor an Emergency Contact and Medical Information Form which includes a medical release for hospital treatment or treatment by a physician. Sponsors may use their own form or use a form provided by Iowa State University. These forms must be in the possession of the Sponsor during the camp or conference. Sponsor agrees to have the parental/guardian of youth under 18 sign a permission agreement for participation in the program.

Dining Options for Groups Under 2 Weeks

ISU Dining, our award-winning, self-operated campus dining provider, prides itself on providing a variety of quality culinary experiences to our university community and guests. ISU Dining offers several residential dining centers, markets, cafés, vending areas, and restaurants across the ISU campus. ISU Catering is part of ISU Dining’s network of services. All the right details will be present for any catered event from a simple boxed meal to a meeting break to a five-course dinner. Both on-campus and off-campus caterings are available, and many Iowa State University campus locations can be served. See Dining Options for Groups Under 2 Weeks.

Accommodations Request and Contracting

For housing and dining availability, contact our Conference Services Staff. Housing in specific areas is subject to availability of space and facilities projects each summer.