Bulletin of Dental Education Article

Each day around lunchtime, more than 400 students and residents at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics (UI COD) are looking for a place to eat, study, recharge and connect with classmates—all at roughly the same time.

There simply hasn’t been enough space for everyone.

This summer, UI COD is addressing that challenge by transforming an underutilized area of the building, previously the bench lab into a new Student Success Center designed around the day-to-day needs of dental students and residents.

The renovated center will include a kitchenette, dedicated study space, a lounge and areas where students can gather between classes and clinical responsibilities. Its location is intentional: The center sits on the second floor near lecture halls, the college’s Simulation Clinic and student lockers, as well as a new computer lab being developed in conjunction with the project.

Rather than adding space to the building, the project demonstrates how an existing space can be reconsidered and put to better use for students. The result will create additional capacity during busy periods such as lunch while establishing a central location for students to study, connect and spend time between the many demands of their dental education.

Courtesy of the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics

Published on September 9, 2026