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The Badger Herald

Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

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Next phase of Memorial Union renovations to include spiral staircase, expanded dining area

Artist+renderings+show+the+terrace+with+newly+renovated+dining+space+inside.
Artist renderings show the terrace with newly renovated dining space inside.

Design plans for the next phase of the Memorial Union Reinvestment project moved forward after Union Council voted to approve the latest update to the layout at a meeting Thursday.

Nat Stein from Uihlein-Wilson Architects presented revamped floor plans and displayed them in a three-dimensional “walking tour” of the proposed first and second floor plans.

The Wisconsin Historical Society struck down a proposed hole in the ceiling for a spiral staircase that people would encounter immediately upon entering Memorial Union on the first floor. The historical society felt it would drastically change the scope of the building and that it would take away from the classic horizontal structure of the building and give it a vertical emphasis, Stein said.

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The spiral staircase that was supposed to connect the first two floors was moved to the southeast corner of the edifice. The steps will lead to a lounge area on the second floor, Stein said. Strong feedback from the MUR Student Planning Committee has encouraged that the lounge area be converted into a computer and technology lab supported by Division of Information Technology.

The proposed staircase will allow for easy access to the new upper-level outdoor deck on the southeast wing and will be easily accessible from the proposed Alumni Park, Stein said. The park would be located in the area between the Memorial Union and the Red Gym, providing aesthetics to the area leading up to Lake Mendota, he said.

Additional improvements to the first floor included relocating Peet’s Coffee Shop and the Daily Scoop to the east wall and enclosing the Badger Market behind a glass wall, Stein said. The terrace will be accessible by Der Rathskeller with stage viewing available from the hallway that leads to the terrace, he said.

Much of the discussion at the meeting focused on the replacement of Lakefront on Langdon with a seating area that includes an Asian restaurant and an Italian Bistro in the middle of the room. Seating areas will surround the food service areas and some will be located behind the restaurants with no clear views of the lake.

Alumni Representative Jeff Haupt said the dining area should be pushed back to allow for more seating with a lake view and several council members agreed. Katie Cary, the MUR Student Project Manager, said it provided a diverse studying environment for students who may not want to be near the “sometimes boisterous conversation” that occurs near the lake, and said it provided a greater entrance to the restaurant area.

Treasurer Hank Walter said the majority of the people who want a view of the lake would sit outside, so the necessity of interior seating was not imperative.

Union Council voted to move the planning from 15 to 35 percent of the MUR design plans, with four members dissenting.

“Personally, I approved the plan because I see the overall scope of the plan as very balanced I believe the students will be very pleased with the level of seating,” Associated Students of Madison Chair David Gardner said.

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