Iowa State Approved New Student Tearoom Facility
The Iowa Board of Regents authorized a $12.8 million renovation to relocate a historic student-run restaurant.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Nutrition
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The Iowa Board of Regents has greenlit a project to build a new 90-seat student-run restaurant and learning laboratory at Iowa State University. The facility will replace the historic Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom, which is currently located in MacKay Hall.
Why it matters
The project integrates modern instructional technology with professional kitchen spaces, allowing students to alternate between restaurant service and classroom learning environments. This initiative modernizes a century-old program while expanding academic capacity in the human nutritional sciences.
The project will renovate 9,000 square feet within the Human Nutritional Sciences Building to house the new facility. The budget relies on $10.8 million from private contributions alongside $2 million from university deferred maintenance funds.
The players
Iowa Board of Regents
This governing body manages the public universities in Iowa, including Iowa State University.
Iowa State University
Located in Ames, this public land-grant research university hosts the human nutritional sciences program.
Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom
This student-run restaurant has operated on the campus since 1926 as a laboratory for hospitality and nutrition students.
The details
The new facility features a demonstration island and integrated camera systems designed to facilitate seamless transitions between active restaurant service and formal academic instruction. The kitchen will be equipped with industry-standard appliances to provide students with hands-on, back-of-house experience in a professional setting.
Timeline
The original Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom opened on June 11, 1926.
A public open house for the tearoom's 100th anniversary is scheduled for Oct. 2, 2026.
Construction on the new facility is expected to begin in spring 2027.
The project is scheduled for completion in 2029.
The Big Picture
This project upgrades the facilities for the human nutritional sciences laboratory programs at Iowa State University to keep pace with modern industry standards for food service instruction. The move replaces a legacy space with a purpose-built environment that improves the technological capabilities of these programs.
Students will gain experience with industry-style equipment, while patrons can expect a modern, 90-seat dining environment once the facility opens. The transition ensures that the educational tearoom program remains an active part of the campus experience for the next century.
The takeaway
The move from MacKay Hall marks a significant evolution for the century-old tearoom, transitioning from a historical space into a high-tech academic lab. This investment underscores the university's commitment to bridging the gap between professional culinary training and classroom instruction.
Further reading
Learn more about campus dining and research initiatives in our Nutrition section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KGAN.
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