NEWS
Students tell UW to ‘go green’
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by Nick Penzenstadler
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Several graduate students from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Architecture presented their "green" plans for renovations to UW-Madison's School of Human Ecology building Wednesday.
Each student's design could be incorporated into a $48 million renovation project of the Human Ecology building that includes adding a new expansion.
According to School of Human Ecology Dean Robin Douthit, the school will break ground on the project in 2009 after an 18-month planning process.
UWM professor Jim Wasely had his graduate design studio present multiple designs for the project and instructed the students to integrate energy-efficient systems.
"The building itself is a real gem, a real resource — we looked into possibly adding a penthouse to the top floor to take advantage of the wonderful lake views," Wasely said. "We want to have thin, day-lit buildings, and we ought to be able to design buildings that do not require electric lights during the day."
Wasely said U.S. universities spend more than $200 million to operate buildings, which is more than most other institutions across the world spend.
UWM graduate designer Michael Kautzer presented his proposal with an extensive energy-saving roof design, including photovoltaic arrays to harness solar power.
"My vision integrates vegetation with ivy on the buildings and planters," Kautzer said. "There will also be rain gardens, and [it will] make use of different techniques on the roofs, PV arrays for electricity, and below that, collection and storage systems for the water."
Wasely said the United States is entering a new paradigm of architecture, where buildings are up to 80 percent more efficient than current structures.
The final professional designs will also address pedestrian circulation issues from Observatory Drive to Linden Drive, coinciding with the campus's long-term plans.
UWM graduate designer Stephen Tremlett proposed rerouting traffic on Linden around the area for students.
"I wanted to stop the roadway to allow pedestrians access, and add a terraced portion for a rain garden," Tremlett said.
Every designer also incorporated the School of Human Ecology's "100 Women Campaign" fundraising effort that raised $100,000 for the renovation project. As part of the campaign, 100 women will be immortalized in the new building.
UWM designer Nick Badura proposed etching the women on glass in an atrium, allowing sunlight to stream through.
Project Manager Jon Jenson, of the Division of State Facilities, said UW interior designers might have the opportunity to assist in the energy-saving efforts as well.
"Interior design students will have a contribution especially with choosing materials," Jenson said. "The students would be real valuable helping find products with recycled content, like carpets with low [Volatile Organic Compound] rating."
Once a designer is chosen, Jenson said architecture students will play a smaller role in the building and designing process.
"[The students' involvement] will be more as an audience participation, but it's a real project with real dollars," Jenson said. "It has to solve real circulation problems. Their role will be more for background."
Anonymous (February 8, 2007 @ 12:29pm):
THE NEW UNION SOUTH COULD BE JUST LIKE THIS---WE HAVE AMAZING UNTAPPED TALENT HERE IN MADISON.
Anonymous (February 8, 2007 @ 12:47pm):
$48 Million! See, that's what I don't get about going green. You save the world from the sequelae of industry by paying more money to industry to remake something that was working just fine. The only difference is that this time it'll be made "green".
Rebuild ONLY when the structure has outlived its lifespan.
Anonymous (February 8, 2007 @ 4:57pm):
Rebuilding should rarely be necessary. The old structures and their infrastructures are hardly recyclable (except for the carpets in rare circumstances). The current state of the art is to build, build, build.
Look at the Engineering Careers Building. It is total waste of space.
Anonymous (February 9, 2007 @ 12:02pm):
What do you mean when you say that the Engineering Careers Building is a total waste of space? I thought Engineering students liked that space. Did I hear wrong?
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