The construction of a new building to house University Health Services and a student activity center is the university's top priority in terms of its facilities budget, according to an announcement UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley made Thursday.
Because of underestimated construction expenses, the project, originally estimated to cost $22.9 million, is now expected to cost closer to $34 million. The unexpected cost increase has stalled other renovations scheduled for Bascom and Sterling halls.
The UHS and student activity center \is vital to filling two long-standing needs on campus,"" Wiley said.
The facility will house clinical, counseling and administrative offices for UHS. It will also act as a student activity center by providing meeting rooms, work areas and offices for student organizations and the general student body.
Students have been working for five years to see the completion of the building, according to Jessica Miller, chair of the Associated Students of Madison. In 1999, a referendum was passed by the student body to fund the student activity center as well as 50 percent of the UHS division of the facility.
Last fall, the building appeared on the UW-Madison Campus Planning Committee's list for construction recommendations. Every two years, the committee submits a list of building requests to the chancellor. He then has the authority to alter it before submitting it to the UW System Board of Regents. The unanticipated cost increase of the project motivated Chancellor Wiley to adjust the recommendations of the campus planning committee and stall plans for renovations of Sterling and Bascom halls. While Sterling Hall renovations will remain in planning stages, the CPC's request to seek planning money for the renovation of Bascom Hall will be dropped.
Ideally, construction for the new UHS and student activity center building could begin as soon as spring 2003 and open in 2005, according to Bruce Braun, assistant vice chancellor for UW-Madison facilities planning and management. Many details still need to be worked out before construction can begin though, he said. Final construction funding approval is still needed and a location for the building remains a question.
""We don't have a site yet,"" Braun said. ""We have several potential areas.""
Miller said students would like to see the building built close to Memorial Union and the Red Gym, but limited space in the area creates a problem. University Square and the corner of Park and Johnson streets across from Grainger Hall are being looked at as prospective sites.
""It is safe to say we're still struggling to identify a site that meets the needs of both the health services and student activity center,"" Braun added.
