NEWS
Downtown renovations bring changes
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Also by Lynn Heidmann:
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- Ticket dispute ends in lottery (May 3, 2007)
- UW vet student earns book treat (March 9, 2007)
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- University guarantees housing choices to all students (April 27, 2004)
- Housing to include modern design (March 29, 2005)
- Downtown area expands further (February 4, 2005)
- Debate continues over new dorm (April 27, 2004)
by Lynn Heidmann
Tuesday, August 8, 2006
Madison may have a different feel for returning students this fall as construction continues along University Avenue and at the former University Square.
According to Gary Brown, director of Planning and Landscape Architecture at the University of Wisconsin, the most dramatic changes around campus are the absence of both University Square and the old bank building at the corner of Park Street and University Avenue.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, predicted that even incoming freshmen less familiar with campus will notice and be affected by the transformation.
"Those freshmen who came for a campus tour or for SOAR before the demolition will really be shocked by the changes," he said. "It's amazing when you see such a huge amount of vast space along University Avenue."
According to Verveer, among the University Square establishments to be missed most will be the University Square Theater.
The Square was home to the only movie theater showing first-run movies on campus, Verveer said, and there is still no news of its relocation. While students living in the Southeast residence halls could once walk across the street to see a movie, the closest mainstream theaters are now near the East and West Towne Malls.
"There are only three theaters left in all of Madison that show first-run movies," Verveer said. "It's really very sad, and if there's anything I can do to encourage a theater to open in downtown Madison, I will."
Construction has already begun on a new University Square building, Brown said, and the structure will include underground parking space, a new student apartment tower, and will house University Health Services.
Brown also said students will notice the destruction of the old bank building and the landmark Bucky clock in the fall. In its place, the expansion of UW's Grainger Hall has begun, and the building will soon fill the entire block between Park and Brooks Streets.
But for all the new campus construction extending into the fall semester, students will also see several longtime projects finally completed.
According to Verveer, construction on the 300 and 400 blocks of State Street is nearly finished and students should enjoy its new look.
"[State Street construction] is going very well despite the rainy weather, and the project is actually surprisingly ahead of schedule," he said. "Plus, [the city] received another million dollars from [the state Legislature] to continue the project and guarantee work on the 500 and 600 blocks."
Fall semester also marks the much-anticipated opening of the new Southeast residence structure, Smith Hall, which is UW's first new residence hall in years. And looking ahead, the "new" Ogg Hall is scheduled for a fall 2007 opening, with the destruction of the current Ogg Hall, located just across Dayton Street, planned for spring 2008.
"After the new Dayton residence halls open, Ogg Hall will be removed," Brown said. "But before that, there will be quite a bit of deconstruction of the building so we can recycle as many materials as possible."
Verveer said other ongoing construction projects around the city include additions to the Pres House, the destruction of the Peterson building and the completion of the Equinox apartment complex.
