Swimmers, Sailors And Students--Alumni Hall


Construction on the new building began in 1904, but halted in 
early 1905 when pledges from alumni -- for whom it was named 
-- fell through. The empty building shell stood without 
windows or doors through two winters while fund raising 
resumed. LaVerne Noyes, the alumnus who later would give Iowa 
State a lake, agreed to fund the remaining construction and 
the building was completed in September 1907.

Alumni Hall served as the alumni gathering place, with a 
dining room, large meeting rooms and guest rooms. It also 
held offices for the YMCA and the YWCA and, in the basement, 
a swimming pool. When State Gym opened in 1914, the Alumni 
Hall pool was covered. 

In 1928 the Alumni Association moved its offices to a newly 
opened Memorial Union.

During World War II, the U.S. Navy moved in, using the 
building as an administrative center for its training school 
and converting the large halls on the second floor to 
dormitory rooms.

After the war and through 1985, most of the building served 
as an independent men's residence. The YMCA and YWCA also 
kept offices there.

In 1986, the YMCA's non-profit board gave the building to 
Iowa State. Extensive renovation was completed in 1989. 
Today, Alumni Hall houses the admissions and registrar's 
offices, career placement services and the Ames/ISU YWCA.

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contact:  Anne Dolan, University Relations, (515) 294-7065
updated:  9-28-95