PROGRESS: Northwestern looks to finish athletic complex by August, completes engineering lab

That's the current state of things for Northwestern College which completed work on a brand new engineering lab in December 2024 and aims to finish construction on the John and Ann Den Hartog Athletic Complex and Bultman Center expansion and renovation by Aug. 1, 2025. 

Tony Hoops, the vice president for Northwestern College Athletics, said the expansion and renovation will be a boon to all of the private university's sports programs by "Creating much needed locker room space for each team and a 135-seat team meeting room that can be split into two separate rooms for film and staff meeting purposes."

"We are excited to see the finished product for this much anticipated project. This will greatly enhance the student-athlete experience, provide them with their own space and create more coaching offices for our staff," Hoops said. 

The Bultman Center was built in 1995 and the first phase of renovations were completed in 2021, according to Northwestern. That work included a new gym floor and bleachers as well as a scorer's table with LED screens and updates to the lobby and hallway areas. 

The project was designed by 10Fold Architecture and Engineering of Ames, Iowa and Eric Vermeer, Northwestern class of 2000, worked as the lead architect.

"The additions completed this summer will make it one of the finest in the country," Hoops said.

Engineering lab

The new engineering building on the Orange City, Iowa campus is a 4,000-square-foot facility that includes three lab areas. The site contains 3D printers, rapid prototyping equipment, robotic arms, automated CNC machines and equipment for strength and materials testing. Fifteen students are in the engineering program and it offers concentrations in civil, computer, electrical and mechanical engineering, according to Northwestern.

Duane Beeson, the director of marketing and communications for Northwestern, said the program is led by Young-Ji Byon who was hired by Northwestern in 2023 and has previously helped with the accreditation process for the civil engineering programs at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

"He has had engineering teaching, administration and research experiences on three continents," Beeson noted. Northwestern's program is expected to be eligible to achieve "Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology accreditation" following the graduation of the first group of students in 2028. 

"Byon was selected last fall for training to become an ABET program evaluator, which he will complete this May," Beeson said.