Terracon Foundation Awards $100,000 Grant to Iowa State University

Grant Supports the Town Engineering Building Renovation and Expansion

AMES, Iowa – The Terracon Foundation announced a $100,000 grant to Iowa State University (ISU) to support the renovation and expansion of the Town Engineering Building. The project will support current and future undergraduate and graduate students studying civil, construction, and environmental engineering.

Since Terracon’s founding in 1965 by ISU alumnus Gerald Olson, the company has supported the Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering (CCEE) department through donations, sponsorships, and scholarships. These include laboratories, the co-ops, internships, and an endowed fellowship. Additionally, Craig Denny, a retired senior consultant with Terracon, endowed the Jim Hoover Chair in Geotechnical Engineering at ISU. 

“Terracon is excited to embark on the next stage of our long-standing partnership with Iowa State University. Our support is enabling the next generation of engineers to learn in a modern facility in the tradition of excellence that the university continues to deliver,” said Ryan Morgan, MBA, P.E., senior principal in Terracon’s Des Moines office.  

More than 30,000 students are currently enrolled at Iowa State in more than 100 degree programs in six colleges. Based in Ames, Iowa, Iowa State is the top-ranked Iowa university in the latest Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2025 Best Colleges rankings, and is ranked No. 119 out of the 500 colleges and universities.  

“The Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering has a long, fruitful relationship with Terracon. We greatly appreciate their generosity and support, and look forward to many more years of collaboration,” said David Sanders, Greenwood Department Chair and Professor, CCEE.  

The Terracon Foundation encourages employees to submit grant requests each year for organizations focused on education as well as the built and natural environment. To date, the Terracon Foundation has granted over $4 million to community organizations, universities, dependents of employees, and disaster relief efforts.   

About Terracon Terracon is an employee-owned engineering consulting firm with more than 7,000 employees providing environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services from more than 180 locations with services in all 50 states. Terracon consistently ranks as a top 20 design firm by Engineering News-Record. Start to explore with us by visiting terracon.com.