Grainger Hall to expand

by Natalie Rhoads

Wednesday, February 9, 2005 00:00

The planned expansion of Grainger Hall, home to the University of Wisconsin’s School of Business, will result in the relocation of four campus centers.

The McBurney Disability Resource Center, the University Health Service’s branch Counseling and Consultation Services, the offices of the Division of Continuing Studies and the College of Letters and Science Career Services center and the School of Human Ecology Career Services are all currently located at 905 University Ave. and will have to move to allow for the expansion of Grainger Hall.

McBurney director Trey Duffy said the relocation of the center to the Middleton Health Sciences Library on Linden Drive is intended to be temporary. However, a permanent location has not yet been determined.

“I don’t think this is a move for the better. I think this is a step backwards,” Duffy said.

The addition to the business hub is the result of $30 million in private donations, $20 million of which is from the Grainger Foundation and an additional $10 million in state funding, according to Alan Fish, associate vice chancellor for Facilities Planning and Management.

Fish said the expansion would begin when spring semester classes come to an end, and students would see significant changes when they return in fall 2006. He added the finished building is scheduled to open in fall 2007.

“Grainger will be fully operational throughout construction,” Fish said.

Office manager for the McBurney Center Barbara Lafferty said although the staff has been asked for its input, the relocation could possibly harm the organization. According to Lafferty, the new building has fewer handicap parking spots available and it is located on a steep hill. She added students with visual disabilities would have to become familiar with a new location. However, Lafferty and Duffy both agreed the space would be a good location for staff offices.

“We are cautiously optimistic, but worried,” Duffy said.

Kathleen Poi, executive director of UHS, said the counseling and consultation component of UHS will be moving to Rust-Schreiner Halls, currently a graduate student housing building on North Orchard Street. She said the move is taking place during a time of low traffic for UHS, so students will most likely not notice the change. However, the center is planning several promotional e-mails and websites to keep students informed.

“We’re going to have to do some marketing so people know where to find us,” Poi said.

Poi added the new location would be temporary and UHS is hoping to move into the University Square Complex when construction for the structure is complete as part of the campus master plan.

“[UHS is] anxiously looking forward to four years from now, when we have our entire organization located in one building,” Poi said.

Fish said the new building, which has been in the planning process for the past year and a half, was designed around the new program for business graduate students and will provide classrooms and conference areas for seminar experience.