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Student Innovation Center

Activate your imagination

Welcome to the Student Innovation Center, the heart of creativity and collaboration at Iowa State University. All students are welcome, regardless of major. Find inspiration, try something new, and explore endless ways to turn ideas into action. Come here to Innovate at Iowa State.

  • Image of student working on laptop in a conference room.

    Room reservations

    In addition to the open collaboration spaces, you can reserve private meeting rooms, event spaces, and classrooms.

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    Makerspaces

    Everything 3D printing, glass blowing, embroidery, wood working, podcasting, virtual reality and more.

  • Image of a student standing back to back with Olympian Allison Felix.

    Programs and Events

    Innovation programs help build your innovation capacity through workshops, competitions, speakers and more.

Image of two students in the metals and woods shop holding the box templates that they've cut out.

Create in a Making 101 Training

Get started with free, hands-on trainings to learn how to use the Makerspaces.

What is happening at the Center?

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IGNITE Innovation Showcase

IGNITE is an annual celebration of student creativity that showcases students’ innovative work from every college at Iowa State University!…

Host your next event at the Student Innovation Center

Leverage the center’s state-of-the-art facilities for your special events, presentations, conferences, showcases, and more.

I love being at the Student Innovation Center because the architecture provides a beautiful open concept with natural lighting, and tons of places to study. The student-centered spaces always feel inviting and inspire me to continue learning on campus.

Jack Harris, Senior in Enviromental Science

Collaborate anywhere

There’s no wasted space in the five-level, 140,000-square-foot Student Innovation Center, with plenty of open, comfortable places to meet, study, collaborate, or relax, with no reservations required. Whether you’re collaborating with a group or need a spot to work independently, there are plenty of power outlets and super-fast Wifi — indoors and outside — to keep you connected.

Third floor

East entrance, first floor

Stepatorium, first and second floors

Sunderland Foundation Courtyard, second floor

East lawn

Third floor

Lower level

Stepatorium, first and second floors

Innovation in the News

New artwork aims to inspire viewers to think about agriculture, life sciences

A pair of art installations on the fourth floor of the Student Innovation Center culminate three years of work from students, faculty and staff to show innovation in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Located outside the collaborative learning labs of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the art pieces aim to inspire and provoke thought. Dean Daniel J. Robison highlighted that the installation continues Iowa State’s tradition of public art meant to inspire and create opportunities.

Iowa State Researchers Receive 2024 Bridging the Divide Grant to Address Textile Waste

A pair of Iowa State University researchers have been selected to receive funding from the annual Bridging the Divide seed grant program to explore sustainable practices within the textile industry. Assistant professor of art and visual culture Raluca Iancu and associate professor of fashion design and merchandising Rachel Eike have received the 2024 award. They will receive $50,000 in institutional funding over two years to combine sustainability practices with traditional fine art papermaking techniques to transform discarded garment waste into renewed textiles for use by art and fashion industries.

Innovate here

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Questions?

Learn how you can use the Student Innovation Center.