B10 Ingraham opened its doors Tuesday to incoming classes for the first time in more than two semesters. The room, which is the third-largest lecture hall on campus, and lecture halls 22 Ingraham and 1651 Humanities were part of a three-classroom renovation project.
The University of Wisconsin classroom renovations are part of a system-wide program to refurbish lecture halls in need of repair as well as update technological equipment.
B10 Ingraham, for example, received new audio-video equipment, such as DVD, compact disc, audio and video cassette players, a document camera, wireless Internet access and padded seats — a notable difference from the deteriorating wooden desks that previously occupied the room. The hall, known for its bad acoustics and screeching speakers, also now has a new stereo system and walls.
Kim Todd, senior administrative program specialist at UW’s Division of Facilities, Planning and Management, noted some rooms needed renovation in order to adhere to new building codes, as was the case with B10 Ingraham. Todd said rules regulating distances between aisles and the slope of wheelchair ramps are now in place. She said the construction crew made an addition to the building to make enough room to hold a suitable ramp.
The renovators also made sure to maintain a similar number of seats after the new rules were put into place.
“We typically lose 15 percent capacity when we renovate,” Todd said but added some “creative” methods allowed the classroom keep 484 seats of the original 503.
UW freshman Ryan Whitehead had not had class in B10 Ingraham until his Political Science 103 lecture Tuesday. He said he had never seen a better lecture hall with such adequate acoustics, and one in which he could see the professor at all times. Whitehead, who uses a motorized wheelchair, said the room was fairly accessible compared to other rooms, with the exception of the lack of an automatic door.
Political science professor Mark Pollack is a veteran to teaching in the room and noted how different it is to teach in the lecture hall now.
“This used to be the worst room,” Pollack said. “This is the nicest [large lecture hall] on campus now.”
Money to pay for classroom renovations comes mostly from state tax dollars. UW applies every two years for the necessary funds to remodel the classrooms, but Todd said the Board of Regents or State Building Commission cannot always give the necessary approvals due to the state budget crisis facing the entire UW System.
Todd also said the Humanities building would not see any more structural improvements, since the East Campus Plan includes the razing of the building.
Todd said it usually takes a semester and summer or winter break to complete a room refurbishing, and this current go-round cost $1.45 million, more than $300,000 under budget.
“We’re very proud,” Todd said, adding the combined effort between UW and contractors helped make it happen. “We really put our heart and soul into that room (B10 Ingraham).”
Todd also emphasized the importance of the work in cleaning up that often does not get recognized, such as the extra time and effort to clean the room and ceilings, wax the floors and wash the windows.