NEWS
Ogg, Peterson to come down
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Also by Nick Penzenstadler:
- For whom the bell tolls (November 29, 2007)
- New apartments for West Wash? (November 20, 2007)
- One-and-out: Kumar will not seek 2nd term on Dane County Board (November 15, 2007)
- Displaced Carroll residents call university, bookstore helpful (November 13, 2007)
- Carroll Street fire displaces students (November 12, 2007)
Related Stories:
- Fish moves from sports to facilities management (November 20, 2002)
- Traffic distress coming soon (April 24, 2007)
- Segregated Fees to Increase for East Campus Development Plan (January 30, 2004)
- Ogg Hall demolition date pushed back a year (March 23, 2004)
- UW, city officials discuss campus sprawl (October 29, 2004)
by Nick Penzenstadler
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
As some students prepare to leave Madison next week after finals, construction crews are getting ready to tear up large portions of the University of Wisconsin campus for several projects.
Alan Fish, associate vice chancellor for facilities, said several ambitious projects are due to begin immediately after students leave, including the demolition of Ogg Hall, the A.W. Peterson building near the Chazen Museum and the Food Research Building. The university will also build a new bike path and upgrade utilities.
Despite the hopes of Chancellor John Wiley for a spectacular Discovery Channel-style implosion, Fish said Ogg will be systematically "deconstructed" piece by piece over four to six months beginning before October.
"It would be very exciting, but it'd be very dangerous," Fish said. "We actually explored whether this could be blown up, and we were very concerned with underground utilities beneath Ogg that could be significantly damaged."
With the slower and more tedious approach, Fish said the university would recycle 75 to 80 percent of the materials, which will also offset some of the cost for the comprehensive undertaking.
"It's probably a little more expensive but it's safer and, actually, we're able to recycle more building materials," Fish said. "We're sorting it as we go and can recycle more than if it's a giant heap to work on."
Erika Rence, president of the Wisconsin Student Planning Association, a student group through the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, said UW is taking a step in the right direction with the decision to recycle the building materials.
"It's very good as opposed to destroying it," Rence said. "When you implode, it leaves behind a large pile of rubble and materials that could potentially be reused — it may cost a little more but it's better as far as sustainable building solutions."
After it is completely removed, the space at 716 W. Dayton St. will be used as part of the east campus mall project stretching from Regent Street to Library Mall.
"There will be a park in that area with green space, volleyball and basketball courts," Fish said.
Fish said crews will break ground on a 19-month project to upgrade facilities and streets in the western part of campus. A new bridge over Willow Creek near the Natatorium to Highland Drive will also be included in the $26.5 million project.
In the same area, UW will construct a 10-foot-wide pedestrian and bike path from University Bay Drive to just east of the School of Veterinary Medicine near Campus Drive. This is due to open in October.
Rence said the new bike path will provide another opportunity to avoid fossil fuel consumption on campus.
"Anything where students have the opportunity to use transportation other than buses or cars is a great thing," Rence said.
In addition to the west campus upgrades, Fish said a 35-foot-wide trench will be opened this summer near the new University Square development in a $19.9 million utility project through 2009.
"The lower campus is going to really be a mess," Fish said. "I'm not going to sugarcoat it. At the end of the day, though, it'll all be connected from Library Mall past the Kohl Center to Regent."
Anonymous (May 8, 2007 @ 2:28am):
I know it's not related to this story, but what's happening with the "Student Union Initiative" construction propositions?
--Damien C. Bordeaux
Anonymous (May 8, 2007 @ 8:21am):
nobody cares is what happened. stop stealing jean claude van damme's name from Hard Target. start using your real name.
Anonymous (May 8, 2007 @ 8:42am):
I've been waiting for years to see that hellhole explode...curses!
Anonymous (May 8, 2007 @ 9:12am):
Wait, where are all the new freshman going to live?
Anonymous (May 8, 2007 @ 10:19am):
In the new Ogg Hall across the street...on the corner of Dayton and Park!
Anonymous (May 8, 2007 @ 10:49am):
I want a chunk of Ogg when it comes down!! for posterity
Anonymous (May 8, 2007 @ 11:28am):
I'll miss you, Ogg.
Anonymous (May 8, 2007 @ 1:31pm):
From TB in RB, CA -
From the shaving cream under the door tricks, to the penny jammed doors, to the 35-people-packed-in-a-dorm-room parties, the spy, Jenny E, Dante S, Pop's grilled cheese sandwiches, from walking into the wrong room and vomiting in front of 6 complete strangers (thanks, whoever you were for not kicking my arse), to the assorted chants at Sellery and Witte, pretending to work out at the SERF and playing football where the Kohl Center stands now, and making some of the best and most interesting friends -- I'll miss you Ogg Hall.
Anonymous (May 8, 2007 @ 3:50pm):
Ogg is a UW landmark!!! The new Smith and Ogg buldings are too posh for me. So whats gonna be the crappiest dorm on campus now that Ogg is going down? I vote shi*tty Witte.
Anonymous (May 8, 2007 @ 5:48pm):
Ogg clearly has the most character of any UW dorm on campus. It will be sorely missed. In fact, right after I walk for graduation, I'm going over to Ogg (in full cap and gown) and I'm taking the door number from my old room.
Pat Daley (May 9, 2007 @ 8:52am):
I wish they would hurry up and expand the Terrace out to the Red Gym.
RIP Ogg. Lots of good memories...
Anonymous (May 16, 2007 @ 9:51am):
good luck taking the number from your old room...theyre painted on the doors
Dan Siegman (October 10, 2007 @ 9:29pm):
I lived in 1359 Ogg West my freshman and sophmore year and LOVED it! I still have pictures of the capitol building at night taken
from my dorm room window that look like a postcard. That was 1978 & 1979. I will miss OGG too.
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