BBS Architects Engineers

Iowa State University

VRAC C6 and Office Suite
VRAC C6 and Office Suite
VRAC C6 and Office Suite
VRAC C6 and Office Suite

Construction Completed: January 2000

The Virtual Reality Applications Center (VRAC) C6 Installation is a fully immersive synthetic environment and is capable of a six-sided rear-projection display (completing the cube). Real and virtual objects are blended in the same space so that several individuals have an unoccluded view of their bodies as they interact with virtual objects. This installation is a focal piece for Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. The C6 is located in the center of an open atrium in Howe Hall. The design and construction process considers unique and progressive opportunities to advance the quality of service and design for the C6 Installation.

The VRAC office suite comprises 21,000 net square feet in Howe Hall. This project consists of faculty offices, conferencing, interaction spaces, computer labs, and an electronic/ mechanical fabrication shop for the state-of-the-art, nationally recognized computer imaging department. This user group desired a design capable of accentuating their very public image. The office layout needed to not only promote the technology sophistication of a regularly toured, public, state-of-the-art computer department, but also to encourage a traditional faculty/student university department to comfortably work and interact.

“Immersion” was chosen as the key word for the user group. It was critical to this group that the facility would enable students and visitors to gain insight into the complexities of computer image generation. The original design concept for Howe Hall focused on the forms of fluid dynamics. Interpreting the exterior fluidity into the interior immersion vision helped to form the basis of the interior layout.

Focusing on a duality of public presentation and educational/ research requirements, the layout solution comprises 4 “zones” of immersion: presentation, observation, interaction, and finally entering into the world’s most advanced fully immersive, virtual reality computer projections rooms.

Corporate Highrise
ABC - Office Build-Out
Corporate Headquarters Renovation
Iowa City Federal Building - VHA Renovations
Executive Suites Renovation
Common Ground - Coffee Shop
LeBaron Hall Replacement Study
Hospital Emergency Room Renovation & Expansion
Hub Tower Office Tenant Improvement
Minnesota Farm Bureau Center
Iowa Events Center
New Office
Camp Dodge Chapel Addition and Renovation
Utah Farm Bureau Center
MacKay Hall Auditorium Renovation
DSM Airport Energy Effiency Improvements
Hub Tower Elevator Modernization
Memorial Union Food Court
Geoffroy Residence Hall
Hub Tower Conference Center
Lied Recreation Center - New Heating Water Plant
Coover Hall Infrastructure Study
College of Human Sciences
Levitt Center for University Advancement
Sabin Hall Renovation – LEED Gold
Beardshear Hall Remodeling
Home Office Building with Expansion
IADA Office Renovation
219 Eighth Street
ETRC Hoover Hall
Reid “E” Research Facility
Dodge House Renovations
Camp Dodge Pool Campus Improvements
Terminal
Wyoming Farm Bureau Center
Arizona Farm Bureau Center
Office Renovation
Union Drive Community Center Renovations
Kemin Food Sciences Lab Renovation
Food Sciences Building - Room 2379 Renovation
Catholic Pastoral Center Rehabilitation
Extension 4-H Youth Building
Lance and Ellie's Sandwich Shop
Ames Lab Metals Development Air Handling Unit Replacement
Covered Walkway
Science Center - New Facility
Parking Garage
BBS at 219 8th Street
Biological Sciences Facility
ETRC Howe Hall
© 2025 BBS Architects | engineers, All rights reserved.