Posted 7:21 p.m. Thursday, July 3, 2014
Chancellor Joe Gow will give his All-University Address in a completely refurbished Graff Main Hall Auditorium prior to the start of fall semester. The auditorium’s new look is one of many renovations happening around campus this summer.
[caption id="attachment_35021" align="alignright" width="600"]
Graff Main Hall Auditorium is currently under renovation.[/caption]
Main Hall Auditorium ca. 1910, empty and decorated for a La Crosse Normal School event, possibly a concert or inauguration. Photo taken from 1911 yearbook. Photo Courtesy of Murphy Library, UW-La Crosse.[/caption]
Workers began auditorium renovations in December 2013. The last time the room was renovated was 1982.
Also in Graff, the Business Services Office in suite 125 is under renovation with updates to lighting, carpet and paint. A new customer service window on the east side of the space will allow for easier walk-up service at the office, notes Doug Pearson, UW-L’s new executive director of Facilities Planning and Management. Completion is scheduled for Aug. 14.
Graff Main Hall, like Wittich Hall and Morris Hall, is on the National Register of Historic Places. The campus has worked hard to preserve the historical integrity of the campus’s founding buildings and will continue to do so, says Bob Hetzel, UW-L’s vice chancellor for Administration and Finance.
“Our campus has a distinct architecture. We are trying to preserve and maintain that,” says Hetzel. “And, as we build new facilities, we want the existing campus architecture to be reflected in our new building projects.”
UW-L’s next major building project is the new student center. Demolition of the old police services building at the corner of Badger Street and East Avenue happened earlier in June to make way for the new building. The project is on schedule and construction will be visible via a webcam installed atop the stadium at the Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. Construction bids will be received in mid August with a potential ground breaking and construction start date in October.
Rendering of UW-L's new student center.[/caption]
What: New Student Center – 204,787 gross-square-feet.
Where: Parking lot east of Wimberly Hall, across the street from the Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex.
When: Construction is expected to start in October 2014. The building is anticipated to open in early 2017.
Why: In April 2012 students voted to build the new facility rather than repair Cartwright Center, the current student union that opened in 1958 with additions in 1964 and 1985.
Cost: $53.3 million. Funded by student fees. No taxpayer dollars to be used.
What’s next: River Architects has been selected for the project and the design process will begin this summer. See more details about the project.
What: New Science Labs Building — 179,800 square feet
Where: Parking lot north of Cowley Hall.
When: Construction is expected to start in spring 2016 and be completed by spring 2018.
Why: UW-L’s science building, Cowley Hall, was built in 1963 with additions in 1968 when fewer science programs were offered. A new science facility will address lack of space and severely deteriorating infrastructure in the existing physical and life sciences facility. Following new building completion, a second phase would replace or remodel the existing Cowley Hall.
Cost: $82 million. Funded by state tax dollars.
What’s next: The project still requires UW System Board of Regents and State Building Commission approval.
What: Chilled Water Plant — 7,000-square-foot building
Where: On the parking lot between the Health Sciences Center and Angell Hall on the west side of campus.
When: Construction is expected to start in April 2015 with completion in fall 2016.
Why: The new chilled water plant will increase the capacity to cool a growing campus. With a new student center, new science building and other projects, UW-L will need the chilled water plant to supplement cooling through the current chilled water system.
Cost: $8.4 million. Funded half by state tax dollars and half by program revenue.
What’s next: The final design will be completed by fall 2014 with bidding to occur in early 2015.
What: Wittich Hall renovation
When: Construction is expected to start in 2016 with the goal of reopening the building in fall 2017.
Why: The building will become the College of Business Administration’s new home. The CBA is currently located throughout Wimberly Hall and in the Wing Technology Center, causing the college to lack a strong identity and proper facilities to aid in new student recruitment. The historic integrity of Wittich Hall, a building on the Federal Register of Historic Places, will be preserved.
Cost: $24 million. Funded by program revenue dollars.
What’s next: This project needs UW System Board of Regents and State Building Commission approval.
What: Recreational Eagle Center — 30,000 square-foot expansion.
Where: Southwest corner of the building
When: Construction to start in spring 2016 with completion in spring 2017.
Why: A survey distributed early spring semester found that 92 percent of the 1,940 respondents thought the REC was so congested it hindered their ability to workout. Students then overwhelmingly approved an expansion in an online vote in spring 2014. The expansion is designed to help students meet their recreational, social and wellness needs.
Cost: $8 million. Students pay an additional $14 a year in student fees to pay for the facility.
What’s next: This project needs UW System Board of Regents and State Building Commission approval.
What: Parking Ramp Addition
Where: A fourth and fifth level on top of the parking ramp west of Cleary Alumni & Friends Center.
When: Construction is anticipated to start in March 2015. The project is expected to be complete in September 2015.
Why: The additional spaces will meet anticipated demand when other surface parking is lost to building projects.
Cost: $7.6 million. Funded by user fees; no state tax dollars.
What’s next: The project design needs final approval from the UW System Board of Regents and State Building Commission.
What: Gymnastics Practice Facility and Storage Building – Storage Building is 12,000 square feet; Gymnastics Building is 15,000 square feet.
Where: The storage building is planned for North Campus, east of the Physical Plant Building. The Gymnastics Building is planned for the Parking Lot C1 site, on the south side of campus.
When: Construction expected to start in 2015 with completion in 2016.
Why: To accommodate all practice activities of the Women’s Gymnastics Team. The storage building will have general storage space, along with space for campus mail and materials delivery, processing and distribution.
Cost: $4.5 million. Funded by program revenue.
What’s next: This project design needs final approval from the UW System Board of Regents and State Building Commission.
What: Annett Recital Hall renovation
Where: Inside the Center for the Arts.
When: The renovation should start in spring 2015 and be complete in spring 2016.
Why: It would be the first major remodeling of the university’s 285-seat recital hall since the structure was built in 1973.
Cost: $900,000. University of Wisconsin System Administration funds
What’s next: The project has been approved by the UW System Board of Regents and an architect needs to be selected to begin the project design.
Graff Main Hall Auditorium is currently under renovation.[/caption]
Graff auditorium renovation nears completion, student center project begins
Chancellor Joe Gow will give his All-University Address in a completely refurbished Graff Main Hall Auditorium prior to the start of fall semester. The auditorium’s new look is one of many renovations happening around campus this summer. Projects range from sidewalk repairs to site preparation for UW-L’s new student center. Completion of the auditorium is one of the largest projects on the agenda this summer with a $1.3 million price tag and completion date of Aug. 1. The renovation is paid for by the state. As renovation work nears completion, the Graff Main Hall Auditorium shines with a glow reminiscent of the original 1909 building. The auditorium originally had large windows, which opened to an unroofed courtyard spaces between the auditorium and the rest of the building. This let natural light into the auditorium, which had unreliable electricity in its early years, according to Murphy Library staff. That roof was enclosed after World War II and the light courtyard spaces became offices and classrooms. Today those old plaster walls have given way to acoustic wall panels, wooden chairs are now comfortable, cushioned seats, and users will enjoy perks like modern classroom technology and energy-efficient lighting. [caption id="attachment_35027" align="alignright" width="600"] Main Hall Auditorium ca. 1910, empty and decorated for a La Crosse Normal School event, possibly a concert or inauguration. Photo taken from 1911 yearbook. Photo Courtesy of Murphy Library, UW-La Crosse.[/caption]
Workers began auditorium renovations in December 2013. The last time the room was renovated was 1982.
Also in Graff, the Business Services Office in suite 125 is under renovation with updates to lighting, carpet and paint. A new customer service window on the east side of the space will allow for easier walk-up service at the office, notes Doug Pearson, UW-L’s new executive director of Facilities Planning and Management. Completion is scheduled for Aug. 14.
Graff Main Hall, like Wittich Hall and Morris Hall, is on the National Register of Historic Places. The campus has worked hard to preserve the historical integrity of the campus’s founding buildings and will continue to do so, says Bob Hetzel, UW-L’s vice chancellor for Administration and Finance.
“Our campus has a distinct architecture. We are trying to preserve and maintain that,” says Hetzel. “And, as we build new facilities, we want the existing campus architecture to be reflected in our new building projects.”
UW-L’s next major building project is the new student center. Demolition of the old police services building at the corner of Badger Street and East Avenue happened earlier in June to make way for the new building. The project is on schedule and construction will be visible via a webcam installed atop the stadium at the Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. Construction bids will be received in mid August with a potential ground breaking and construction start date in October.
Update on campus projects:
[caption id="attachment_4480" align="alignleft" width="640"] Rendering of UW-L's new student center.[/caption]
What: New Student Center – 204,787 gross-square-feet.
Where: Parking lot east of Wimberly Hall, across the street from the Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex.
When: Construction is expected to start in October 2014. The building is anticipated to open in early 2017.
Why: In April 2012 students voted to build the new facility rather than repair Cartwright Center, the current student union that opened in 1958 with additions in 1964 and 1985.
Cost: $53.3 million. Funded by student fees. No taxpayer dollars to be used.
What’s next: River Architects has been selected for the project and the design process will begin this summer. See more details about the project.
What: New Science Labs Building — 179,800 square feet
Where: Parking lot north of Cowley Hall.
When: Construction is expected to start in spring 2016 and be completed by spring 2018.
Why: UW-L’s science building, Cowley Hall, was built in 1963 with additions in 1968 when fewer science programs were offered. A new science facility will address lack of space and severely deteriorating infrastructure in the existing physical and life sciences facility. Following new building completion, a second phase would replace or remodel the existing Cowley Hall.
Cost: $82 million. Funded by state tax dollars.
What’s next: The project still requires UW System Board of Regents and State Building Commission approval.
What: Chilled Water Plant — 7,000-square-foot building
Where: On the parking lot between the Health Sciences Center and Angell Hall on the west side of campus.
When: Construction is expected to start in April 2015 with completion in fall 2016.
Why: The new chilled water plant will increase the capacity to cool a growing campus. With a new student center, new science building and other projects, UW-L will need the chilled water plant to supplement cooling through the current chilled water system.
Cost: $8.4 million. Funded half by state tax dollars and half by program revenue.
What’s next: The final design will be completed by fall 2014 with bidding to occur in early 2015.
What: Wittich Hall renovation
When: Construction is expected to start in 2016 with the goal of reopening the building in fall 2017.
Why: The building will become the College of Business Administration’s new home. The CBA is currently located throughout Wimberly Hall and in the Wing Technology Center, causing the college to lack a strong identity and proper facilities to aid in new student recruitment. The historic integrity of Wittich Hall, a building on the Federal Register of Historic Places, will be preserved.
Cost: $24 million. Funded by program revenue dollars.
What’s next: This project needs UW System Board of Regents and State Building Commission approval.
What: Recreational Eagle Center — 30,000 square-foot expansion.
Where: Southwest corner of the building
When: Construction to start in spring 2016 with completion in spring 2017.
Why: A survey distributed early spring semester found that 92 percent of the 1,940 respondents thought the REC was so congested it hindered their ability to workout. Students then overwhelmingly approved an expansion in an online vote in spring 2014. The expansion is designed to help students meet their recreational, social and wellness needs.
Cost: $8 million. Students pay an additional $14 a year in student fees to pay for the facility.
What’s next: This project needs UW System Board of Regents and State Building Commission approval.
What: Parking Ramp Addition
Where: A fourth and fifth level on top of the parking ramp west of Cleary Alumni & Friends Center.
When: Construction is anticipated to start in March 2015. The project is expected to be complete in September 2015.
Why: The additional spaces will meet anticipated demand when other surface parking is lost to building projects.
Cost: $7.6 million. Funded by user fees; no state tax dollars.
What’s next: The project design needs final approval from the UW System Board of Regents and State Building Commission.
What: Gymnastics Practice Facility and Storage Building – Storage Building is 12,000 square feet; Gymnastics Building is 15,000 square feet.
Where: The storage building is planned for North Campus, east of the Physical Plant Building. The Gymnastics Building is planned for the Parking Lot C1 site, on the south side of campus.
When: Construction expected to start in 2015 with completion in 2016.
Why: To accommodate all practice activities of the Women’s Gymnastics Team. The storage building will have general storage space, along with space for campus mail and materials delivery, processing and distribution.
Cost: $4.5 million. Funded by program revenue.
What’s next: This project design needs final approval from the UW System Board of Regents and State Building Commission.
What: Annett Recital Hall renovation
Where: Inside the Center for the Arts.
When: The renovation should start in spring 2015 and be complete in spring 2016.
Why: It would be the first major remodeling of the university’s 285-seat recital hall since the structure was built in 1973.
Cost: $900,000. University of Wisconsin System Administration funds
What’s next: The project has been approved by the UW System Board of Regents and an architect needs to be selected to begin the project design.