Iowa State’s CyTown nears groundbreaking in September with McFarland Clinic already rising

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    AMES, Iowa (KCCI) — Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard announced Monday morning that a groundbreaking for CyTown is planned for September, marking a major step forward for the long-anticipated development near Jack Trice Stadium.

The project is designed to bring together retail, commercial, food and beverage, and residential space in what university leaders say will help complete the area surrounding Iowa State’s athletics district.

Chris Jorgensen, Iowa State’s senior associate athletic director, said the project has been years in the making since plans were first unveiled in 2022.

“It has taken a long time because it’s a complicated project that has taken a lot of steps along the way,” Jorgensen said.

Now, with a groundbreaking date set, Jorgensen said the momentum is energizing those who have worked to move the project forward.

“It’s very exciting for everybody that’s been working on the project,” he said. “I think it will be very exciting for all of our fans, students, alums and faculty that will get to enjoy CyTown.”

One major piece of the development is already taking shape. Construction is underway on a three-story, 78,000-square-foot McFarland Clinic building, which will serve as one of the anchor components of the broader CyTown project.

Jenni Talbott, chief operating officer for McFarland Clinic, said seeing the clinic rise after years of planning has been rewarding.

“We’d seen this on paper for many years,” Talbott said. “Now, to see it up and coming, we’re really excited.”

Talbott said the clinic remains on schedule to open in 2027, and she is looking ahead to the rest of CyTown opening the following year.

“We’re really excited and interested to see what other tenants are coming into town, who our neighbors will be,” she said.

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