A $7 million commitment from the Gerdin Charitable Foundation will allow the Iowa State University College of Business to expand its facility, which has become a high priority for the college due to years of growth and record enrollment.In a news release Wednesday, ISU officials said the Gerdin family are long time leaders, friends and donors to the College of Business. Ann and her late husband, Russell Gerdin, provided the foundational gift for the college’s facility – the Gerdin Business Building – in 1998. The couple established Heartland Express, a nationwide company specializing in logistics and transportation, with headquarters in North Liberty, Iowa. “It has been wonderful to return to Iowa State and see the Gerdin family continue their support of the College of Business,” said Iowa State University Interim President Benjamin J. Allen. “We are deeply appreciative of their generosity to expand their namesake building, thus ensuring we have the necessary space to provide our students a world-class education for years to come.” This gift will help the college build an approximately 35,000-square-foot addition next to the existing Gerdin Business Building. Preliminary designs show a four-story structure that features new classrooms and faculty offices as well as space for student interaction. “The Gerdin Business Building is a beautiful and dynamic facility,” said Raisbeck Endowed Dean David Spalding. “Unfortunately, we have outgrown this space. Since I arrived in August 2013, the college has experienced a 30 percent increase in enrollment. This has led us to hire more faculty and staff to accommodate the needs of our students.” An addition to the Gerdin Business Building will expand the footprint of the college, guaranteeing that students, faculty, staff and alumni continue to maintain a singular “home” on campus. “This additional space will complement the purpose of the building, enabling us to continue on our course to become a top business college in the nation,” Spalding said. “We are extremely grateful for the generosity of the Gerdin family, their commitment to a high-quality education at Iowa State, and their desire to support students at the College of Business.” “With this gift, our family wishes to express our confidence and admiration for the great work being done at the Iowa State University College of Business,” said Mike Gerdin, chairman and CEO of Heartland Express, and a member of the College of Business Dean’s Advisory Council since 2012. “Over the past four years, under the direction of David Spalding, the college has seen significant enrollment growth, which places stress on the current facility. Ultimately, that impacts student learning. Our family is pleased to be able to help as the college expands and provides the best education possible for tomorrow’s business talent.“My family and I are grateful to past and present employees of Heartland Express whose hard work and commitment to excellence have allowed our family to make this donation,” Gerdin added.The $7 million Gerdin gift is part of the $1.1 billion Forever True, For Iowa State fundraising campaign. The Iowa State University College of Business is among the top 50 public business programs in the country. The college offers a wide variety of programs to maximize student potential, connects students with professionals through case competitions, interactive learning, study abroad, internships and ultimately successful employment. Learn more at www.business.iastate.edu/.