The Badger Herald: News: School of Ed begins rebuild

News

School of Ed begins rebuild

Blocked-off walkway causes serious safety concerns at UW

Courtesy of University of Wisconsin

A new pedestrian area will be built between the Education Building and Observatory.

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Also by Matt Weingarten:

UW eases up on parking tickets (March 24, 2009)
Identity scams challenge DoIT (March 12, 2009)
WISPIRG, state colleges lobby for lower emissions (March 8, 2009)
Rising population a big concern (February 25, 2009)
School of Ed begins rebuild (February 20, 2009)

By Matt Weingarten
Friday, February 20, 2009 12:15 a.m.

2 Vote 0 Votes

The 108-year-old University of Wisconsin Education Building on historic Bascom Hill will undergo a $34 million renovation over the next 18 months to prepare the building to meet the School of Education’s needs in the next century.

The renovation will add a three-story east wing to the building, a central common area for students with a coffee shop and add two rooftop terrace gardens with views of Lake Mendota.

Kerry Hill, communications coordinator for the School of Education, said the building is badly in need of renovation.

“The building has outdated fixtures, classrooms that are ill-equipped for modern technology and [there are] poor restroom facilities,” Hill said.

According to Hill, his addition fulfills the vision of the original architect and reorganizes the building to accommodate students on the ground floors and faculty on the upper floors to create a more conducive environment for working.

The construction, which began on Feb. 9, blocks the well-frequented pathway in between the Education Building and Observatory Drive. The pathway’s blockage, as well as the occasional closing of Observatory Drive’s eastbound lane for construction vehicles, has raised many questions about student safety.

UW senior Josh Pearlstein did not know the path was closed when he initially tried to use it.

“I left College [Library] and was trying to get to Social Sciences when there was a gate and fencing in front of me,” Pearlstein said. “I just followed other students and hopped the fence — it was icy and snowing and it was definitely dangerous.”

Angela Pakes Altman, project manager for the building’s renovation, said she was well aware of the problems of student safety.

“If students are at the fence line, they have already passed several posted warning signs,” Altman said. “We’ve all personally been out there telling people about the closure.”

All classes and university offices will be displaced for the duration of the renovation, moving over to the Educational Sciences Building, Lathrop Hall and Rust-Schreiner Hall, according to Altman.

She went on to say the new building will apply for a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, an energy efficiency and green building award, which would make it the first building on campus to be LEED certified.

Interim Provost Julie Underwood said the project was aimed at meeting the nationally ranked School of Education’s needs.

“The Morgridge’s have been incredibly generous and gracious people, not only donating to UW for the education building’s renovation, but also giving $50 million to the Wisconsin Institute of Discovery and $175 million to the Fund for Wisconsin Scholars,” Underwood said.

2 Comments | Leave a comment

Anonymous | February 20, 2009 9:05 AM | Reply
IP hash: b0ce0bf9

Why doesn’t the article point out that the walkway on the Bascom Hill side of the Education Building remains open. Really, are pedestrians too lazy to take a minor, temporary detour? So what if we have to put with a little inconvenience for a year or so to get something nicer, like the drawing shows. This isn’t the first time we’d had to walk around a construction zone on this campus.

Anonymous | February 23, 2009 9:09 AM | Reply
IP hash: 13658259

I’m sorry, but if someone is going to ignore the “sidewalk closed” signs and then hop a fence just so they can save 3 minutes off of their walk, then they have no one to blame, but themselves, if they get injured. UW has taken the appropriate steps to ensure student safety. Let Darwin take care of those too dumb to listen.

Also, stop quoting your roommates, Weingarten…