(Radio Iowa) – A project on the University of Iowa campus will revive a building that’s been vacant since it was swamped by flooding in 2008. Rod Lehnertz — the university’s architect — says when you’re inside the old Art Building, you can tell it’s been mothballed for a long time.

The 37 million dollar plan for the old Art Bui includes addressing a backlog of maintenance projects as well as renovations to modernize the structure.

About one-fifth of University of Iowa students are enrolled in the Graduate College. Lehnertz says they’re confident the building will not be flooded again, but just in case there are plans to add flood protection to the lower level.

Based on the size of the project, Lehnertz expects it to be completed in 2026. The old Art Building is among 22 campus buildings that were flooded when the Iowa River washed across the Iowa City campus in 2008.