Iowa Pavilion

The Iowa Building, constructed in 1936, replaced the Jackson Park Pavilion designed for the World's Columbian Exposition held on this site in 1893. After its demolition in 1936, construction swiftly began that same year on the current Iowa Building, which was financed in part by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI). The building is clad in Wisconsin limestone with bluestone-paved walkways and a lush interior courtyard. After years of neglect and vandalism, the Iowa Building was rehabilitated for the client for community use as a picnic shelter, a venue for events and markets. The project included accessibility upgrades, restoration of original wood doors and hardware, new replica aluminum windows, masonry repairs to the limestone cladding, roof replacement, plumbing and lighting upgrades and complete interior renovation of restrooms. The site work also created a new and improved accessible path leading to the building restrooms, arcade and courtyard. The Iowa Building is eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The restoration was completed in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. The project was funded through an Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Grant which included the Iowa Building rehabilitation and other improvements to Jackson Park.