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Marshalltown’s finest facilities on display

T-R PHOTO — The public was invited to tour the newly renovated Marshalltown Arts and Civic Center and the Fisher Art Museum on Sunday afternoon.

It was a great week to showcase some of Marshalltown’s best assets! I was fortunate to tour the Iowa Valley Community College/Marshalltown Campus and the Marshalltown Arts & Civic Center this week.

On Thursday, the Iowa Valley Community College District (IVCCD) revealed renovations to the Marshalltown Campus. These improvements were made with a $32 million bond issue the community passed in 2019.

Kristie Fisher, President of the IVCCD, and the Board of Directors welcomed the guests as they congratulated those who worked so hard to make this project succeed. They especially thanked the public for their confidence in the college by voting for the bond issue.

The renovations touched almost every part of the campus. Some of the improvements were very visual, such as the renovated B.J. Harrison Library, the new physics lab, and many student common areas. Other improvements were not so obvious included roofing, wiring and internet wiring throughout the campus.

One of the most popular places was the Esports lab. Students compete in internet gaming contests with others from across the world. They improve their gaming skills, but also take classes to learn about Esports marketing, Esports Broadcasting, and the special events promotions of tournaments. These are jobs that I or even my own kids never envisioned as they were going through college.

Another central part of the campus was the Hall of Care. This hallway contained a reflection/meditation room, a lactation room and a private bathroom with a shower. Nearby was the Veterans Lounge where those who have served can access a computer and have a quiet spot to study or rest.

The Conference Center has been totally renovated and updated to serve the needs of our community for a meeting space, conference center and dinner venue.

Then on Sunday, I visited the Marshalltown Arts & Civic Center (MACC), home to the Fisher Art Museum and the Martha Ellen Tye Playhouse. This is another gem of our community. Since the derecho of 2020 caused significant damage, the community center has undergone extensive renovation and reconfiguration.

Guided tours shared information about the renovation. The first stop was the lobby which can serve as a reception room. Next, we entered the museum with the restored artwork that is displayed in a beautiful, bright room with information at each piece of art. The old auditorium has been converted to a tasteful venue for a reception or dinner. Along with this is a commercial kitchen for catering. It is such an improvement from the previous kitchen!

The tour continued with meeting rooms both large and small. Several of our non-profit agencies, such as the United Way, The Community Foundation, and the Martha Ellen Tye Foundation have offices in the south part of the building.

The final stop on the tour was the Martha Ellen Tye Playhouse. This part of the building was constructed in 1973. It also sustained damage from the derecho. The roof has been repaired along with new flooring on the stage. The dressing/make-up rooms have had a total uplift. But the theater itself will take additional funds to completely refurbish it. That is the next project down the road.

I want to thank Karn Gregorie and all those who worked with her to manage this transformation. Our community should be proud of this Art & Civic Center. I believe Bill Fisher and Martha Ellen Tye would be proud!

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Sue Cahill, a Democrat from Marshalltown, represents District 71 in the Iowa House of Representatives.

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