The Memorial Union sits on Lincoln Way at the south edge of the Iowa State central campus, fronting Lake LaVerne. Opened in 1928 and expanded several times since, it is the social and ceremonial heart of the university — dedicated to ISU students and graduates killed in war, with a Gold Star Hall whose walls are inscribed with their names.
The building is a striking neo-Gothic / collegiate-Tudor design, with vaulted ceilings, oak panelling, and a large flagstone-floored hall used for university events. Inside are a food court, bookstore, ballroom, and the small Workspace gallery. It is open to the public; the Hall is a quiet, moving place to step into.