Renovation Committee Updates

UWSP Renovation Committee Meeting Minutes

The University Centers will be undergoing a major renovation project beginning in May 2006. The design work began in February 2005. Throughout 2005, the Renovation Committee had met regularly with the architects. On September 30, 2005, the design plans were 35% complete.

During the Summer months, a decision was made to close the building rather than phasing the renovation project. This will save students an estimated $1.5 million dollars and will shorten the renovation time to one academic year and two summers.

Meeting Minutes:

• October 5th, 2005 (Meeting Minutes)
• September 15th, 2005 (Meeting Minutes)
• July 27th, 2005
• July 6th, 2005
• June 22nd, 2005
• June 9th, 2005
• May 24th, 2005
• April 5th and 6th, 2005
• March 14th, 2005
• March 3rd and 4th, 2005
• February 18th, 2005

July 27th

The University Center Remodeling committee met July 27, 2005 along with architects from Perkins + Will and SDS Architects. The main topic of discussion was exterior finishes for the building. Three elevations were shown with materials such as copper, the campus brick, slate, metal, wood, and glass. The committee came to the conclusion of using copper along the top of the building, the roof, and the majority of the theater addition. Brick coordinating with that used around campus will be put on the upper level of the building including the overhanging portion of the front. The first level will be a combination of slate and glass for visibility into the concourse. The north entrance of the building will be done using a wood finish underneath the cantilevered roof.

Another major step in the process of this project was achieved on August 1, 2005 when the architects presented the design and site plan to the Stevens Point City Planning Commission. After discussion concerning the set back regulations and parking lots, the plan was approved by the committee.

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July 6th, 2005

The University Center Remodeling committee met July 6, 2005 along with architects from Perkins + Will and SDS Architects. No significant changes were made to the schematic floor plans from the last meeting, though the plans were more refined and detailed. The architects also brought with them exterior elevations of each side of the building. The committee went through each drawing and discussed issues such as where windows should be placed to allow for the best views of campus. One of the main topics of discussion was the materials and finishes that could be used for the new addition. The committee looked at existing materials used around campus such as brick and copper, and also introduced new materials including wood, metal and stone. The next meeting is scheduled for July 22, 2005 and will begin the Design Development phase of the project.

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June 22nd, 2005

The University Center Remodeling committee met June 22, 2005 along with architects from Perkins + Will and SDS Architects. The architects brought with them revised floor plans, new exterior renderings, and a 3-D model showing the West facade of the building. Major changes that occurred from the last meeting include reducing the width of the ground level and concourse to allow for landscaping and pathways outside the building. Connection ramps were also added to the first level of the building above the concourse allowing for offices, lounges, and computer labs. Revisions were also made to the Laird Room including moveable walls allowing for one large space or smaller separated rooms. The committee also began discussing possible materials that will be used on the exterior of the building such as brick, stone, copper and wood. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 6th.

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June 9th, 2005

The University Center Remodeling committee met June 9, 2005 along with architects from Perkins + Will and SDS Architects. With the approval of the large scale remodel, the architects presented preliminary floor plans for each level of the building. The plans include a larger concourse with space for student organizations and other retail spaces, a theater, expanded Laird room, and new dining facilities. The committee went through each plan discussing the size, placement, and uses for each space within the building. Feedback was given not only concerning the interior of the building, but also the exterior. Consideration was given as to how close the building will be to the street and surrounding parking lots. The architects took the information and comments from the meeting and will continue to refine the design of the building. The next meeting is scheduled for June 22, 2005.

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May 24th, 2005

The committee met with Jeff Ziebarth and Larry Page of Perkins +Will and Tom Twohig of SDS Architects in room 241 of the University Center. The meeting was also attended by Maura Donnelley of UW-System and Angela Zar of the Wisconsin Department of State Facilities.

The architects presented two concepts during the meeting that met the overall budget of $23.7 million dollars (approximately $17.4 million dollars in construction costs).

Option A's main feature included leaving the three main pieces of the project in their current locations (Laird Room, Dining and Store/Text Rental).

Option B included an addition for the Laird Room, moving the dining section to the front of the building and reducing the size of the Store/Text Rental).

The committee’s discussion centered on the importance of the theatre (which currently is not shown in either option), the concept of a Convenience Store and locations and sizes of offices, retail and services. The design staff took the comments from the group to begin refining the conceptual diagrams for the building.

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 9.

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April 5th and 6th, 2005

Architect Meetings with Committee:

The purpose of the meeting this week was program verification, budget discussion, and space adjacency discussion. The architects from SDS and Perkins and Will presented two programs during this visit: one for the original budget amount and one for the original program.

The students originally approved $16.7 million dollars in 2001 for the project. However because of general inflation and much higher construction material costs, $16.7 million will not cover everything they said they wanted. So the second program included everything stated in the original program, but at a cost higher than $16.7 million dollars.

During the afternoon of the 6th space adjacencies in the building were discussed amongst the architects and committee members. The architects presented boards with different broad area space adjacencies; there were boards that correlated to the $16.7 million dollar program, or reduced program, and boards that correlated to the higher cost program, or the full program.

The pros and cons of each area were discussed, as well as how functional spaces related to other spaces and how each space related to the building. The meeting concluded with a tour of the mechanical spaces of the building.

The next steps will be for the results of the preliminary design and budget development to be presented to the Centers Advisory and Policy Board for their direction and for additional presentations to be made to the Student Government Association and administrative staffs.

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March 14th, 2005

Architects from Perkins and Will and from SDS met with the University Center Remodeling Committee from 11-5. The project mission and the program space list were reviewed and modified. Later in the afternoon there was an adjacency concept workshop, where different space planning set ups were drawn and the pros and cons of each adjacency and building placement were discussed.

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March 3rd and 4th, 2005

Over these two days architects from Perkins and Will and SDS met with the different occupants of the building. There was a total of six sessions, each session lasted 1 ½ hours, and included students, staff and administrators. The groups included were: The University Store, Text Rental, University Box Office, Point Card Office, Centers Reservations, Conference and Reservations, Defender Services, Program Services, Campus Activities and Recreation, Centertainment, Food Services, Student Involvement and Employment Office, Student Government Association, Student Organizations, Campus Administrators, and many others. Each group was able to have a discussion with the designers about what their optimal office set up would be, as well as where they think they should be placed in the building. Many of the areas talked about how they might be evolving in the future, as the project is still 3+ years away from completion.

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February 18th, 2005

Mission Statement Development: Tom Twohig of SDS Architects and Jeff Ziebarth and Jeff Stebar of Perkins and Will lead a day long process with the UC Remodeling Committee. This meeting took place in the Legacy Room of the University Center and the agenda included an overview of Perkins and Will's experience in student union design, a general review of the goals of the UC project and a major brainstorming session. During this part of the session, the committee members helped identify things that made the University Center, UWSP and Stevens Point unique. The comments were then grouped into categories that the architects will use to create the foundation for the mission statement of the project. This mission statement will be presented at the next set of meetings tentatively scheduled for March 4-5, 2005

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