A guide to reserving space in the Student Innovation Center

The Student Innovation Center draws students, faculty and staff from across campus for classes, projects and events where collaboration is everywhere. The purpose of the building is to celebrate the innovation that happens at Iowa State and bring together all the colleges to encourage interdisciplinary work and foster new ideas. Each college has footprint in the building to invite everyone to engage in innovation. There are many spaces available for use but anyone who uses the rooms and equipment should understand some basic guidelines.

The Student Innovation Center is made up primarily of three kinds of spaces, each with its own reservation procedures:

• Student Innovation spaces 
• General university classrooms
• College-designated spaces

Makerspaces

Makerspaces are studios, shops and labs where students, faculty and staff can create and collaborate. Users must complete online trainings in Canvas which cover the basics of the equipment and software in the makerspaces. After completing the Canvas course, users can sign up for a Making 101 session, which provides hands-on trainings required to use most of the machines and equipment in the makerspaces. Both the online and hands-on training must be completed before using the makerspaces.

* Reservations are required through the Student Innovation Center website to use the Letterpress Lab, Paint and Finishing Shop and Composites Shop. They're locked when not in use.

Makerspaces are open 9 a.m.-8 p.m. unless otherwise noted and staffed by experts who enforce safety and can help with machinery use. Materials for use in the makerspaces can be purchased at the Innovation Supply Station (room 1237). A ninth makerspace -- the Artificial Intelligence Innovation Studio -- will open on the third floor this fall.

Meeting rooms

The Student Innovation Center has six small meeting rooms (0122, 2237, 3111, 3131, 3136, 3136) that hold five to eight people and five large conference rooms (0107, 1118, 1133, 2235, 4237) that can hold 10-20 individuals. They can be reserved through the center's website or on the electronic pad just outside the room entrance. The small rooms can be reserved for up to three hours per day and reservations are available 30 days out. The large rooms also are available in three-hour blocks and can be reserved up to five days out. A reservation for more than five days out requires an event request.

Spaces like the stepatorium and first-floor atrium/multipurpose area can be reserved through the center. Reserving the Launchpad (room 4250) requires approval at the dean level or above.

General university classrooms

These rooms -- like all general university classrooms -- can be reserved by contacting room scheduling. Center staff can't reserve these rooms.

College-designated spaces

The six undergraduate colleges have designated space in the Student Innovation Center. The colleges are responsible for the spaces, control access and determine whether they can be rented or used by others. The rooms are locked when not in use, and center staff can't access or reserve the rooms.

Design

All spaces are for Design (and LAS) courses, students and staff. They are not available to those outside the college.

Liberal Arts and Sciences

All spaces are for LAS (and Design) courses, students and staff and are not available to those outside the college.

Engineering

All spaces are for Engineering courses, students and staff and are not available to those outside the college.

Health and Human Sciences

The room is available for rent in four- and eight-hour blocks for a fee ($93 for four hours and $187 for eight) outside of HHS classes. Email Matt Haynes to reserve.

Agriculture and Life Sciences

The rooms are available to reserve at no cost when not in use. Email Marcy Cheville to reserve.

Business

Room 3231 can be reserved at no cost when not in use. Email Ashley Sawyer to reserve.

Student organizations

Seven student organizations are housed in their area of the assembly bay in the basement and can use the equipment. The clubs are:

1. SAE Aero: Designs, builds and tests radio-controlled aircraft flown in competitions.
2. Baja SAE: Designs, manufactures, builds, tests and races an all-terrain car.
3. Cardinal Space Mining: Designs and builds a robotic mining system to compete in NASA's Robotic Mining Competition.
4. SAE Clean Snowmobile -- Designs a snowmobile that's acceptable in environmentally sensitive areas such as national parks.
5. Formula SAE: Designs, builds, tests and races a formula-style race car.
6. PRISUM Solar Car: Designs, builds and drives a solar-powered car in cross-country time/distance events. 
7. Robotics: Designs, builds and competes with robotics as an individual or team.

Building partners

There also are several building partners with assigned space in the center:

Innovate 1858: Hands-on learning lab retail store managed by students and faculty in the apparel, merchandising and design department.

ISU Printing Services: The print center handles printing needs from course materials to posters for students, faculty, staff, and ISU units.

SPARKS Café: Students in the apparel, events and hospitality department manage the café, which sells a range of food and beverages.

WiSE West: The program for Women in Science and Engineering supports and empowers community for all students majoring in a science, technology, engineering or math discipline. 

Gaffer's Guild: Artistic glass blowing club open to students and the public.