Those involved in the University of Wisconsin North Park redevelopment plan and East Campus Plan provided information on the issue during an open house at Faith Community Church Thursday.

Two new residence halls, a new administration building and visitor center, as well as a renovation of the Murray pedestrian mall, are all in the plan.

The two architectural firms involved, Kahler Slater and Zimmerman Design Group; members of Boldt, a property development group that is part of the project; and campus administrators were all present to answer questions.

“This is quite a move for this block,” said Alan Fish, director of Facilities, Planning and Management.

He explained this area has been a “back alley” of the city for a number of years.

The first part of the project includes building a new residence hall and administration offices on Park Street. This part of the project will most likely begin this year and be completed by 2006.

The new 140,000-square-foot office building will be built on North Park Street and include a parking garage. It will house the offices of university administrators who currently work in the Peterson Building.

Upon completion the Peterson Building, the Elvehjem Museum of Art will be expanded to create more room for the music department, which currently resides in the Humanities Building.

The second stage of the project will involve building a second new residence hall on Dayton Street. This part of the renovation is scheduled to begin in 2005 and end in 2007.

Combined, the two new residence halls will include 425 bedrooms, an assembly space in the lower section and a convenience deli.

Paul Evans, director of housing at UW, called the prospective new buildings as “a modern-traditional residence hall.”

In the year 2008, Ogg Hall will face demolishment and be replaced by green space.

Fish explained if Ogg Residence Hall were remodeled as opposed to demolished and replaced by the two new buildings, costs could reach upwards of $40 million. This would not eliminate the current problems of limited student housing and small room sizes, he said.

Fish said students are excited about the prospective changes around campus.

“Almost everyone I have talked to is thrilled,” he said, explaining that room sizes at the new residence halls will increase from Ogg’s current size of 130 square feet to 300 square feet.

Murray Mall will also be completely revamped, which will include new and better lighting, Fish said. Benches will line the strip from Regent to the lake to make the area more pedestrian-friendly.

“This is a big change, and we’re hoping it will be a change for the better,” Fish said.

Evans explained this is the first step of many to come.

“This is really the start of a 15-year master plan,” he said.