As buildings impeding the construction of the new Union South begin to come down this month, many University of Wisconsin community members gave the design of the new union building the thumbs up at a “town hall” meeting Thursday in Engineering Hall.
Union officials presented updates on the structure of the building and discussed special problems presented by the construction site.
Co-project manager Angela Pakes Ahlman said the urban nature of the site has made the transformation difficult, but road improvements will transform the area into a space friendly to pedestrian traffic.
The Orchard Street pedestrian corridor envisioned in the original campus plan for UW will be constructed and extensive green spaces are incorporated into the design.
Pakes Ahlman also said the site incorporates space for a commuter rail. While a rail is not a definite plan, it will continue to be an ongoing discussion in the Madison community.
Officials also reviewed interior plans for the building, including the recreation level, food area, offices, theater and banquet spaces and hotel rooms.
Pakes Ahlman said plans are still in place to keep the building as environmentally friendly as possible, saying many resources will be salvaged from the old Union South.
She said plans are currently in place to include 230 bicycle stalls and preferred parking for car pools and low emission vehicles.
Dan Cornelius, Wisconsin Union vice president for project management, said they are hoping to use money from the federal stimulus bill to implement clean energy technology in the new building.
“They’re looking at trying to get a grasp of how the bill works, where the funding is,” Cornelius said. “We designed this building specifically for photovoltaic solar panels but we’ve also been trying to [implement] vertical access wind turbines. Even though right now it’s not in the budget, we’ve designed this building to take that sort of technology.”
He said when funding becomes available, building officials will further pursue the technology.
While only about 30 community members were in attendance, many expressed interest and support in the project.
Larry Warman, a resident of downtown Madison, said he is hoping to utilize the new building when he walks or bikes to work.
“I like the attention to the bicycle stalls and of course the pedestrian mall. I guess I’m not too excited about the parking garage though, as it encourages car traffic. It’s a mixed message,” Warman said.
On the other hand, two meeting attendees raised concerns that the new building will not include space for child care.
Shorewood Hills residents Joyce Bromley and Peter Wickman said a child care facility is currently in the works to be built near Shorewood Hills, but they believe Union South would be a much more appropriate location so faculty and student parents do not have to drive beyond campus to drop off children.
“To see something to this extent without any consideration given to child care, it seems a bit incredible,” Bromley said. “It’s not just Union south; every building that goes up, we should be thinking about child care.”
