[media-credit name=’BRYAN FAUST/Herald Photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit] Madison design firm Potter-Lawson unveiled final plans for the renovation of University Square to the Madison Joint Southeast Campus Area Committee Monday. The University of Wisconsin also discussed the addition of a new weekday free bus route beginning next fall semester.

The extensive redevelopment of University Square includes the construction of three separate towers for university functions, a private apartment complex and two levels for retail.

"It's a unique project," firm representative Rick Gilbertson said. "We're starting with a clean slate."

Instead of the present single one-story unit, University Square will be comprised of an 11-story building for a student organization center as well as a localized center for University Health Services and other university services. An additional 12-story tower will house apartments and retail.

The final plans must still pass through the final phases within the city's government. Potter-Lawson President Eric Lawson said if approved, construction on the building and work with utilities will begin as early as June 1 and aims to finish in June 2009.

"We want to build as much flexibility as possible," Gilbertson said of the plan. "We wanted to cater to how active the space will be."

The primary focus, Lawson said, will be the tower for student services, which will be highlighted by a main mid-block entrance. Upon entering, the tower will have four elevators to take visitors to each floor. There will also be an underground parking lot which will be available to the public and will be able to house bicycles and mopeds, Gilbertson said.

"We wanted to combine the entrance into one area which is easier for security purposes," Lawson said.

The plans also include additional aesthetic greenery by incorporating more trees and adding a rooftop patio above the retail businesses. Students will also be able to use the outside patio on the third and fourth floors to relax outdoors.

"It's a bold gesture as far as separating the university tower from the rest," Lawson said. "The general idea is to give some identity to it, especially at night when the student center will be in use."

The project aims to use different shades of brick within the architecture, Lawson said, adding this was a main goal for developers.

"You can see there's a variety of materials and textures," he said. "It has its own flavor architecturally."

In redesigning the area, adjacent sidewalks will also be widened to 12 feet to better accommodate pedestrians who frequent the walkways on their way to the dorms or class.

"Everybody's excited about the development now that we've started to look at it in three dimensions," Lawson said.

Although committee members questioned the amount of parking, affordable housing issues and the specifics of the retail floors, most were receptive to the plans.

Also at the meeting, university Associate Vice Chancellor Alan Fish said the university has plans to inaugurate a weekday free campus bus route that will provide many stops along Regent Street.

The route will begin at the beginning of the fall semester, and will run north and south from Regent Street up to Observatory Drive.

"It will be very convenient for students," Fish said. "The head times will likely be once every eight minutes for two buses, and once every 15 minutes for one bus."