The Student Services addition to the Emmetsburg campus of Iowa Lakes Community College met a need to combine all of their administrative offices into one location within the main campus building. The addition is inserted into an existing, rarely used courtyard and provides an immediately recognizable campus entry that was previously lacking. The design removes barriers between the students and administrative services through extensive use of glazed panels and glass garage doors. Open during the day, these doors can be closed after hours to secure the office area and allow the student gathering spaces to be used. All offices for the Campus Dean, counselors and administrators utilize floor to ceiling glass walls that carry through the concept of transparency.
The student bookstore was previously buried deep within the building and difficult to find. The new design solves this problem by relocating this function directly adjacent to the main entry with access off the student gathering area, and is now the first space students come to when entering the college. A blue glazed masonry wall on the main façade incorporates the iconic blue color of the Iowa Lakes campus to further signify the progressive nature of the college.