Two major construction projects are underway at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to better meet the needs of students on campus.
The construction projects — with a combined cost of about $61 million — are planned to expand the James R. Connor University Center as well as build Timothy J. Highland Hall.
Timothy J. Highland Hall is the more expensive of the two projects, costing just more than $41 million. The 180,000 square foot facility will contain the instructional, academic support and community service programs for the College of Business and Economics.
Construction on this facility is scheduled to begin in summer 2007 and be completed by summer 2009.
"That is going to be really a gem for the entire campus," Sara Kuhl, UW-Whitewater director of news and publications, said. "It will be a much larger building for our largest college. More than 4,000 students are enrolled in the College of Business and Economics."
The building will replace Carlson Hall, which is less than half the size of the planned project and, according to Kuhl, has become too small to house the growing College of Business and Economics.
"Carlson Hall has served the college well for 30 years, but we really need upgrades," Kuhl said. "It's going to be a very interactive building with large spaces for lecture halls and meeting spaces for faculty and students."
The other major project is the expansion of the James R. Connor University Center, which is similar to UW-Madison's Wisconsin Union. Construction on the expansion began during summer 2006 and is scheduled to end by spring 2008.
The expansion will include a number of upgrades that are intended to enhance the student experience. These upgrades include a student-involvement complex, a 280-seat auditorium, a large ballroom, a convenience store and an expanded art gallery.
Other upgrades, like wireless Internet and conference spaces, are also going to be integrated into the center to meet the needs of students.
"The university center will be an upgraded facility that will truly meet the needs of our students, especially with the updated technology and with the updated space for meetings and conferences," Kuhl said.
The expansion and upgrade looks to solve some of the logistical problems with the building, Kuhl added.
"The building, as it is, is very disjointed and was built in different periods like the '50s and '80s," she said. "It will be far more uniform and will serve the students better than it has in the past."
The expansion also means that a number of services and offices will be moved, including the credit union, ticket services and the Whitewater Student Government.
The University Center will be paid for by student-segregated fees while Timothy J. Highland Hall will be paid for by the state, according to David Miller, assistant vice president for capital planning and budget for the UW System.
"Highland Hall is almost 100 percent state funding except for $5.5 million in gifts," Miller said. "We're very excited about the opportunity to upgrade the quality of teaching space and are glad the state approved the majority of the funds for the project."
Miller added that a new residence hall was being planned for the campus as well.
