A six-story building with dozens of condominiums, rental space for offices and retail space for entrepreneurs may soon appear across from Camp Randall.
Sieger Architects presented the Fieldhouse Station project to the Madison Urban Design Commission at a meeting Wednesday.
"This corner, in its current shape, does not work," Bob Sieger, the project's principal architect, said. "It needs proper direction for the 21st century."
The main level of the building, called the Fieldhouse Project, which would be located at the intersection of Monroe Street and Regent Street, would contain about 12,000 square feet of retail space on the main level, office space on the second level and 40 to 50 residential lofts on the remaining levels.
Sieger, who has owned the current building for the last 12 years, said the Fieldhouse project would be "a combination of brick and concrete, but the majority of it would be glass."
Sieger added the inner designs of the condos would vary according to the owners' taste.
While some might include fine wood floors and granite, others might consist "more of an urban-warehouse design with concrete floors and steel structures," he said.
According to Sieger, the current building is not a sufficient use of space.
"[The building is] a total underutilization of its location as it relates to the major construction project across the street," he said.
But not everyone agrees with Sieger's sentiments.
Richard Scott, a member of the Vilas Neighborhood Association — which works specifically with stadium issues — believes the proposed building is too big.
"It's a great idea, but I just don't think it's going to work," he said.
Sieger said his company will go to great lengths to pursue "a redevelopment project on this corner of some design that's a mix of residential and consumer design."
The Fieldhouse project would provide an independent vitality that would not just rely on football, like many of the bars and restaurants in the area, Sieger said.
Scott said the association would like to see more economic developments but would prefer smaller projects.
"The neighborhood wants to see some retailers go in there and even some condos, but not to the scale that [Sieger] is planning," Scott added.
In regards to the neighborhood's initial reaction, Sieger said residents thought the building was too tall in relation to the area behind it.
"But the reality of it is that it's miniscule as it relates to the university's athletic complex across the street," Sieger countered.
Despite the immense size of Camp Randall, the neighborhood association still has reservations about the building's size as well as the increased traffic that would result both throughout its construction and after its completion, according to Scott.
"It's not a good fit in the neighborhood," Scott said in regard to the current proposed size. "A much smaller project would be much better for the neighborhood."
Since it is advised to obtain approval from the neighborhood and city officials before submitting a project for city approval, Sieger said the company is working "very hard" to try to come up with an intelligent compromise between the agencies involved.
And because the building is located at the intersection of four city districts, Sieger said compromises are needed.
"We're trying to keep all four alder-people happy, we're trying to keep the neighborhoods happy, and we're trying to keep the university happy," he added.