NEWS
Observatory revamp moves ahead
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by Carl Jaeger
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
University of Wisconsin officials outlined a renovation project costing nearly $2.5 million for the historic 126-year-old campus observatory Tuesday, laying out the project's timeline and logistics during a meeting with university community members.
Starting next March, the Washburn Observatory on Observatory Drive will undergo maintenance to improve its operations, accommodate the Letters and Science Honors Program, and allow the building to be accessible to the disabled, according to Gerald Krueger, a project consultant with STS Consultants — which will spearhead the renovation project.
The observatory is currently home to the Institute for Research in the Humanities and numerous astronomy department classes, and it is also open for public viewing, Krueger said.
Due to the Americans with Disabilities Act, Krueger said, the building needs more accessible routes and restrooms for the disabled, and he added the project hopes to retain the historical importance of the building.
"The preservation will preserve its historic nature," Krueger said. "But the overall features of the historic building need some maintenance."
Additional improvement will include electrical communication system updates, new plumbing, extra fire-protection measures and new heating and cooling devices.
The project, according to Krueger, is estimated to cost $2.49 million and will be funded completely by private donations.
By April 2009 — the project's expected completion date — the renovated observatory would be able to accommodate more students than currently possible, Krueger said.
The original Washburn Observatory was completed in 1881 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, Krueger added.
The observatory is located near two Native American effigy mounds and a Civil War-era oak tree dubbed "The President's Oak."
The goal of the design team, Krueger said, is to preserve the historical meaning of the building, as well as the land around it.
"The intent and commitment from the design team and the state was to make sure that those features are protected," Krueger said.
The renovation will also help protect the area from soil erosion, Krueger added.
The Institute for Research in the Humanities will temporarily be moved to the Bradley Center before being permanently moved to the University Club, which will also undergo renovation in the near future, according to Loretta Freiling, an administrator at the institute.
The Letters and Science Honors Program offices are currently located in South Hall, another historic building at UW with insufficient accessibility for the disabled. The new location will provide the program with sufficient confidential meeting space, a larger waiting area and more offices, as well as more space for prospective student meetings and presentations, Honors Program associate director Jeffrey Shokler said.
"Almost in every way, this facility will meet the needs of our students, which now serves 1,700 students," Shokler said. "We'll be able to meet the needs of students much more comfortably."
Although many are excited for the renovations, not everyone is happy with them.
Freiling has worked at the facility since 1959 and said she feels there is no need for the change.
"We're happy just the way it is," Freiling said, adding that she believed there is not one benefit to the renovations.
Freiling said the maintenance problems at the Washburn Observatory are no different than those of newer, more modern campus buildings.
Anonymous (April 25, 2007 @ 5:56am):
"numerous astronomy department classes"
given that the astro department's offerings every semester are meager at best, not really sure where this came from
Anonymous (April 26, 2007 @ 1:30am):
5:56 am -- Embittered future astronomer. I love it!
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