NEWS
Union South prepping big renovation plans
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Also by Ken Harris:
- Madison alumni to be mailed around the world (February 14, 2008)
- Union South prepping big renovation plans (February 14, 2008)
- Grade UW's snow efforts (February 14, 2008)
- Investors cash in on plans (February 13, 2008)
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Related Stories:
- Officials discuss changes to Union South (February 17, 2005)
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- Students to decide Union initiative (March 27, 2006)
- Forum discusses Union renovation (November 10, 2005)
- Fees may foot union bill (February 3, 2006)
by Ken Harris
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Four years after the University of Wisconsin initially conceived renovating Union South, the university announced Thursday it has finally hired the architects for the project.
Part of the Wisconsin Union Initiative is a $160 million project to renovate Union South into a “green,” eco-friendly building.
Initiative Involvement Coordinator David Christopher said there will be a mini-conference Feb. 25, and the project is scheduled to be finished by late 2011 or early 2012.
According to Christopher, the initiative wants student participation because more than half of the project will be funded by student-segregated fees.
“For the next 30 years, about a quarter of seg fees will be used to fund the project,” Christopher said. “That’s one of the reasons this is such an important event for the students. Anything that comes out of your pocket — you should have a say in it.”
Christopher said student input is also important because students are the ones who make use of the buildings.
“Students will be involved every step of the way,” Christopher said. “It is absolutely essential the student unions are student-centered.”
Christopher added students and stakeholders will have an opportunity to sign up for different design committees. He said he hopes a lot of students will participate in the “design advisory groups,” known as “dags.”
A second part of the project is to renovate Memorial Union after Union South is completed, and Christopher said the initiative is excited about all the possibilities, though many decisions are yet to be made.
“How do we utilize the space?” Christopher asked. “Everything under the sun is on the table.”
UW sophomore Emily Hughes said she is skeptical a renovation will bring any more activity to Union South, since a renovation does not put the building in a better location.
“I think it’s partially because of the location,” Hughes said. “I don’t think the building is fundamentally flawed.”
Comparing Union South to Memorial Union, she added the south-campus building may need to add an entire lake to make it more desirable. Short of that, however, she said she would like UW to add more tables and chairs to the main lounge area.
“I think they have a bunch of sofas and chairs, which is not conducive to studying,” Hughes said.
UW sophomore April Antonson said it is a good idea to include students in the design process.
“I live closer to Union South, and I don’t go there as much as [Memorial Union],” Antonson said.
Anonymous (February 14, 2008 @ 9:41am):
People don't go to Union South because it's such a pain to drink there. The bar is hidden down stairs by the bowling alley, it doesn't serve pitchers, and looks like a YMCA hangout for teens...
Add a real bar with nice seating, and I would go every day.
Anonymous (February 14, 2008 @ 9:56am):
It is unbelievable that they've conned the students into paying for this with seg fees.
Not to mention it seems incredibly foolish to *renovate* for $160 million (it will end up being a lot more). A new building that doesn't look like a concrete cheese wedge might not be a bad idea.
Anonymous (February 14, 2008 @ 11:20am):
"Not to mention it seems incredibly foolish to *renovate* for $160 million (it will end up being a lot more). A new building that doesn't look like a concrete cheese wedge might not be a bad idea."
The entire project costs $167 million.
Less than half of that cost is actually going towards the new south campus building. We are going to get a state of the art new building to give the engineering and sciences community the Union that they deserve.
Additionally, the majority of the monies will be spent on restoring and preserving Memorial Union--a time-honored icon for campus. It's expensive peeling off the lead paint and revamping 80 year-old plumbing systems, not to mention mending the broken or worn down parts of the building. It will also make Memorial Union more handicap accessible.
On top of all of these great benefits, the new Unions will be environmentally sustainable building reducing their carbon footprint and investing in local resources.
I can't imagine a better use of my segregated fees, actually. I'd much rather pay for these things that are integral to student life than to pay for ASM staff salaries or for UHS services.
Anonymous (February 14, 2008 @ 11:45am):
$192 per student per year for 30 years, people.
Why isn't ASM fighting this at the state level and why aren't they checking -- closely -- to see how hard the Union is working to raise some of the money on its own, as it promised to do when they were in the 'say anything to get it passed' mode?
And why isn't the Badger Herald leading the investigation as to how it happened?
$192 per student per year for 30 years
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