Facilities

Campus and Buildings

Buena Vista University overlooks a beautiful, 3,200- acre lake (Storm Lake), which provides opportunities for water-related recreation. Storm Lake is less than 60 miles from the Iowa Great Lakes region, which includes Okoboji and Spirit Lake. Complementing the natural setting are modern classrooms and residence halls. Construction of many campus buildings was completed in the 1960s. Only Edson Hall and Smith Hall were built before 1950, and Smith Hall was completely remodeled in 1970. As part of an $18 million gift donated to Buena Vista University by Dr. Harold Walter Siebens in 1980, the University completed an exciting new building program in 1986. It included J. Leslie Rollins Football Stadium, constructed in 1980, a 660-car parking lot, the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business/Siebens Forum completed in 1985, and total renovation of Lage Communication Center in 1986. The 1990s marked further building progress with the construction of Briscoe Honor, Constitution and McCorkle Residence Halls, construction of the Information Technology Center, and renovations on Edson Hall. Construction on the Lamberti Recreation Center was completed in 2001. The 70,000-square-foot Estelle Siebens Science Center was opened in the summer of 2004.

Baseball/Softball Fields

The baseball and softball teams practice and compete on shared fields with the local public high school located on Tornado Drive. A complete renovation of both fields was completed in 2009. Field turf was installed on the baseball infield making it the only field turf in the state of Iowa used for college baseball. Additional upgrades for both fields included new scoreboards, dugouts, fencing, bleachers, backstops, press boxes and windscreens.

Buena Vista Sports Complex

This athletic complex is located north of the main campus on Vestal Street and is the home of two soccer fields that are used for the men’s and women’s varsity competition. It is also the site of two football practice fields.

Buntrock Tennis Courts

Four lighted outdoor tennis courts are located just southeast of Siebens Fieldhouse. They are used for intercollegiate tennis and recreational play.

Center for Sculpture and Ceramics

Constructed in 2008, the Center for Sculpture and Ceramics, attached to the Social Science and Art Hall, houses a large workshop equipped with a full line of modern woodworking machinery. Also housed in the building is a foundry set up to cast bronze and aluminum as well as a metalworking studio. The metalworking area contains MIG, TIG, ARC and oxy-acetylene welders in addition to much more metalworking equipment. The ceramics studio contains many electric Brent potter’s wheels, a large glazing area, hand-building area and kiln room. The three-dimensional classroom is set up for moldmaking, investment, modeling and digital image projection.

Dixon-Eilers Hall

Dixon-Eilers Hall houses BVU’s Business Office and the Registrar Office, in addition to housing classrooms and faculty offices. The building was completed in 1958 and stands on the site of the original “Old Main.”

Edson Hall

Originally known as Victory Hall, the University gym before Siebens Fieldhouse was constructed in 1969, Edson Hall is now home to the BVU music department. Renovation of the hall was completed in early 1997 with the addition of a choral rehearsal room, nine state-of-the-art practice rooms, a piano/keyboard lab, a student work area, and additional office space.

Estelle Siebens Science Center

Completed in the summer of 2004, the 70,000-squarefeet facility comfortably houses BVU’s five interdisciplinary fields of science (biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics), fostering collaboration among the disciplines, as well as between students and faculty.
The 18 laboratories complement seven classrooms, three research areas, and 24 offices. “Science Avenue,” a prominent atrium corridor that puts projects on display, connects the two-story, glass-walled rotunda (nicknamed “the beaker”) to a greenhouse with three environmental growth chambers. The $28 million building was made possible by a $13 million matching gift from the Harold Walter Siebens Foundation and numerous private philanthropic sources. The atrium on second floor exhibits a collection of North American and African animals.

Fritcher Fitness Center

Included in the 2001 addition of the Lamberti Recreation Center is the Fritcher Fitness Center. Located on the west side of the fieldhouse, overlooking the lake, the Fritcher Fitness Center is a 6,000 square foot area that provides both weight and cardio equipment for the BVU community to use.

Grand Hall

Grand Hall, a co-ed residence hall, is located north of Swope Hall and east of the suites, featuring two person rooms, common baths, common recreational areas, study lounges, a kitchenette and a laundry room.

Harold Walter Siebens School of Business/ Siebens Forum

The Harold Walter Siebens School of Business/ Siebens Forum was completed in the spring of 1985. In addition to the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business and a conference center, it houses the Office of Student Services, career services, food service and cafeteria, bookstore, mail & printing, Siebens Den, Geisinger Student Leadership Center, snack bar and other administrative offices. Included in the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business/Siebens Forum are also a number of tiered seminar classrooms and faculty offices. The conference center includes multiple multi-function meeting rooms, a boardroom and a number of dining spaces. The $10 million building was made possible by an $18 million gift from the late Dr. Harold Walter Siebens.

Information Technology Center (ITC)

The Information Technology Center is the cornerstone of academic life for BVU students. The ITC is comprised of the University library, the Stewart D. Siebens Technology Center, the Center for Academic Excellence, the Teaching and Learning with Technology Center (TLTC) and a distance education classroom.

Lage Communication Center

Lage Communication Center is the home of telecommunication at BVU. Renovated in 1985-86, Lage houses the radio, television and print studios for the School of Communication and Arts. It is the control center for the telecommunication system, which extends throughout campus. Recent upgrades to the building’s equipment include updates of FM 97.5/KBVU Radio’s studio and transmitter equipment; a new editing system and updated production facilities for University Cable Network (campus television); and a Macintosh multimedia lab for desktop publishing and generation of multimedia presentations.

Lamberti Recreation Center

The Lamberti Recreation Center was designed to house intercollegiate athletic competition and practices, intramural activities, and campus events. Constructed in 2001, this 65,000-square-foot addition features three multi-purpose courts that are used for basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, tennis, and intramurals, as well as other campus activities. Surrounding these courts is the Dennis Young 200-meter, six-lane Mondo track that is utilized for indoor track practices and meets as well as walking and jogging activities. Two baseball/softball batting cages and an indoor golf net may be raised or lowered for indoor practices.

Lehnus Campus Spirit Store

Located adjacent to the Information Desk in the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business/Siebens Forum, the Spirit Store is your source for official BVU gear in blue and gold to show your BVU pride! Apparel, mugs/drinkware, bags, and other fun items are for sale.

Liberty Hall

Liberty is a co-ed substance free hall. The building is set up similar to Grand Hall, with two person rooms, common baths, study and recreational lounges on each floor, a kitchenette and laundry facilities. This hall also has a faculty-in-residence living in the hall.

Library

The BVU library exists to meet the information needs of our students, faculty, and staff, regardless of their physical location. The library offers a robust collection of books, eBooks, films, journals, and more in print format or online. The physical facilities provide a comfortable study atmosphere that features a mix of individual and group study seating areas. Reference services include group and individual instruction in the use of both electronic and print library resources as well as assistance with all research and information queries. An online chat option allows for interactive dialog with a librarian wherever you are. Also, check out the Research Guides for help with searching a topic for completing your assignments.

Access to the online catalog and numerous research databases covering a variety of subject areas is available around the clock. The library’s Interlibrary Loan service allows students to reach beyond BVU Library’s own collections to obtain books and articles from other libraries all over the world. Other features of the library include public computers and a printer/scanner/photocopier. The lending period for most library materials is 30 days.

Lighthouse

A 30-foot brick lighthouse was built on the shores of Storm Lake near the Siebens Fieldhouse in 1992 in memory of Buena Vista University trustee and benefactor Dr. Harold Walter Siebens. The lighthouse was a gift from the Siebens family.

Peterson Field

Peterson Field is the site of new turf field and track complex for football, soccer, track and field, and intramurals. It is home to the J. Leslie Rollins Stadium which has a seating capacity of 3,500. Outdoor track meets are held on an eight-lane all weather track.

Phillips Meditation Chapel

The Meditation Chapel is located below the foyer of Schaller Memorial Chapel and is made available for individual and small group meditation and worship.

Pierce Hall

Pierce is a residence hall, attached to the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business/Siebens Forum and to White Hall. This residence hall has study lounges, a kitchenette, a recreational room with a pool table and laundry facilities.

Schaller Memorial Chapel

Schaller Memorial Chapel, dedicated in 1963, adjoins Dixon-Eilers and serves as the University’s largest performance center. The chapel is used for a variety of convocation services. Special events, such as Founder’s Day, the American Heritage Lecture Series, baccalaureate, signature ACES events and worship services are held within this facility. The Phillips Meditation Chapel is located on the lower level.

Siebens Fieldhouse

Located on the main level of Siebens Fieldhouse is the competitive arena that seats 3,000 spectators and is used for intercollegiate basketball, volleyball, wrestling and campus events. The athletic administrative offices, the BVU Athletic Hall of Fame room as well as the Fritcher Fitness Center are also located on the main level.

The lower level of Siebens Fieldhouse includes coaches’ offices, nine varsity locker rooms, equipment/laundry facilities, two classrooms, wrestling practice area, athletic training facilities, and two racquetball courts.

Smith Hall

Built in 1925, Smith Hall was completely renovated in 1970. It houses classrooms, and faculty offices.

Social Sciences and Art Hall

Built in 1968 as the Estelle Siebens Science Center, the Social Sciences & Art Hall was renovated in 2008 to house the School of Social Science, Philosophy and Religion. The Social Sciences & Art Hall uniquely blends large academic space with a comfortable learning environment. It  houses studios for the two-dimensional art as well as the 1,550 square-foot BVU Art Gallery.

Stewart D. Siebens Technology Center

The Stewart D. Siebens Technology Center offers hardware and software technical support via the Service Desk, 2FIX hotline (712.749.2349 or 800.248.4462) and 2FIX e-mail, 2fix@bvu.edu. The Service Desk also provides checkout services for digital video cameras, extra batteries and laptop computers. The Service Desk is also one of three locations on campus offering battery swap services. The Service Desk hours vary throughout the year. The Technology Center has color laser printing, and a multimedia creation station available for student use. This facility also hosts the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) and the Teaching and Learning with Technology Center (TLTC). The TLTC supports faculty in the integration of technology tools into teaching and learning.

Swope Hall

Swope is home to the Center for Criminal Justice Studies and Jane's Closet, a resource for foster families in BV County. It is located between Smith Hall and Dixon-Eilers. 

Suites

Briscoe Honor Hall, Constitution Hall, and McCorkle Hall are co-ed residence halls located north of the University’s large parking lot. Students are housed in “suites” made up of six students. Each suite offers a common living room, microwave, and refrigerator, and three bedrooms and bathrooms. The suites also have laundry facilities.

The Underground

The Underground is an on-campus venue for all students. The Underground has a pool table, table tennis, and four large-screen televisions as well as study areas and soft furniture. The venue houses events such as coffeehouse-style singers, Monday Night Football, poetry readings, dances, bands, talent shows, and improvisation performances planned by Student Activities Board, Residence Life staff, and other groups and organizations on campus.

White Hall

White is a co-ed residence hall attached to Pierce Hall and located east of Lage Communication Center. White has a main lounge, laundry facilities, a kitchenette, and study lounges.

Victory Arch

The Victory Arch was constructed from the remains of the Old Main archway. Old Main, constructed in 1893, was the principal building on campus until it was destroyed by fire in 1956. The Victory Arch is a symbol linking the past to the present. The Victory Arch stood on the southeast corner of the Chapel lawn for many years before it was rebuilt atop the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business/Siebens Forum in 1984-85.