University of Wisconsin administrators outlined a proposed plan for new buildings around campus to a city committee Wednesday, including an ice rink in East Campus Mall and an upgraded heating plant on Charter Street.
The new ice rink would be located at 105 E. Campus Mall just west of the Kohl Center, and would serve as a new hockey and swimming facility for UW. Both men’s and women’s hockey teams would practice there, and women’s hockey would compete in the arena. The men’s hockey team currently practices at the Alliant Center, and the lease will end in 2013, according to Gary Brown, director of campus planning.
Offices for both swimming and hockey would also be built in the upper level of the new building.
“It made some sense to get triple, quadruple use out of it, and that was one of the reasons for bringing the swim team out to the site as well,” said project architect Lou Stippich.
The initial planning of the new ice rink design intends to match the overall look of the neighboring Kohl Center. Kahler Slater Architects plan to replicate materials used from the Kohl Center and the overall shape of the Kohl Center. A bridge will connect the two recreational sports facilities and an accessible parking lot will be available for Kohl Center events.
The ice rink design includes an elevated outline of the rink and glass walls across one side of the building. The pedestrian walkway that runs alongside this wall will be well lit from the interior lighting of the pool, according to Stippich. The walkway would also lessen the interference of pedestrian and vehicular traffic after Kohl Center events, Stippich said.
Another possible addition to the new ice rink is a showcase of the history of Wisconsin hockey. The interior of the building will display UW men’s and women’s hockey and will be visible to pedestrians on the exterior through the glass walls.
Members of the Urban Design Commission suggested improvements such as added greenery, clean parking lot designs and making a statue of legendary hockey coach Bob Johnson. They also supported the replication of Kohl Center materials in the architecture of the new building.
Architects from Potter Lawson and UW administration also presented preliminary plans for the Charter Street heating plant. The renovated plant would end the burning of coal and would use a renewable fuel, natural gas boiler.
Alan Fish, UW associate vice chancellor, said a top priority was to make the building aesthetically pleasing to celebrate its environmental efficiency.
“We’re making a transformational investment here,” Fish said. “Let’s celebrate it.”
Architects presented both the ice rink and Charter Street Heating Plant plans to the UDC as an information-based outline, which will continue to be revised.
