The 108-year-old University of Wisconsin Education Building on historic Bascom Hill will undergo a $34 million renovation over the next 18 months to prepare the building to meet the School of Education’s needs in the next century.
The renovation will add a three-story east wing to the building, a central common area for students with a coffee shop and add two rooftop terrace gardens with views of Lake Mendota.
Kerry Hill, communications coordinator for the School of Education, said the building is badly in need of renovation.
“The building has outdated fixtures, classrooms that are ill-equipped for modern technology and [there are] poor restroom facilities,” Hill said.
According to Hill, his addition fulfills the vision of the original architect and reorganizes the building to accommodate students on the ground floors and faculty on the upper floors to create a more conducive environment for working.
The construction, which began on Feb. 9, blocks the well-frequented pathway in between the Education Building and Observatory Drive. The pathway’s blockage, as well as the occasional closing of Observatory Drive’s eastbound lane for construction vehicles, has raised many questions about student safety.
UW senior Josh Pearlstein did not know the path was closed when he initially tried to use it.
“I left College [Library] and was trying to get to Social Sciences when there was a gate and fencing in front of me,” Pearlstein said. “I just followed other students and hopped the fence — it was icy and snowing and it was definitely dangerous.”
Angela Pakes Altman, project manager for the building’s renovation, said she was well aware of the problems of student safety.
“If students are at the fence line, they have already passed several posted warning signs,” Altman said. “We’ve all personally been out there telling people about the closure.”
All classes and university offices will be displaced for the duration of the renovation, moving over to the Educational Sciences Building, Lathrop Hall and Rust-Schreiner Hall, according to Altman.
She went on to say the new building will apply for a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, an energy efficiency and green building award, which would make it the first building on campus to be LEED certified.
Interim Provost Julie Underwood said the project was aimed at meeting the nationally ranked School of Education’s needs.
“The Morgridge’s have been incredibly generous and gracious people, not only donating to UW for the education building’s renovation, but also giving $50 million to the Wisconsin Institute of Discovery and $175 million to the Fund for Wisconsin Scholars,” Underwood said.
