The external structure is nearly complete on Newell J. Smith Hall, and construction is on track for new students to move in for fall 2006. Smith Hall is part of a plan to expand UW-Madison's campus housing, as the university's goal is to eventually have enough housing available for an entire freshman class.
'Every freshman student should have the opportunity to live on campus, and we're trying very hard to make that happen,' said Paul Evans, director of University Housing. 'Right now we just do not have enough space.'
The university plans to build Smith Hall on Park Street and a new Ogg Hall on Dayton Street, which will be ready in the fall of 2007. Both buildings will be replacing the 1,000 spots currently available in Ogg Hall.
The Appleton, Wis. based company, Boldt, was contracted to build Smith, which will provide an array of new features such as walk-in closets, air conditioning, a soundproof music room, a technology center and study rooms in each wing. It will have capacity for 425 with double and single rooms and bathrooms shared among four to five people.
According to Bob Fessenden, assistant director of housing in charge of food service, Smith will have its own deli on the first floor, serving sandwiches, salads and soup with an ice cream counter and coffee bar.
But these features come with a price. Living in Smith will cost $750 more than living in a regular housing double room, said Mike Kinderman, assistant director of housing in charge of facilities.
'That first year in college, we want students to get involved socially, get grounded, and receive the full experience,' said Al Fish, director of Facilities Planning and Management. 'We want to prepare them to make good choices, and living in University Housing makes a huge difference in the quality of students.'
He cited studies comparing the GPA of freshman who live in dorms to those who live off campus. Students who live in dorms average a GPA of 3.15 in their first semester, while those off campus average a 2.85.
The university will tear down Ogg Hall when Smith and the new Ogg are complete. Construction will then begin on Lakeshore dorms, creating another 800 beds for freshman. Currently University Housing can provide beds for fewer than 4,500 students, yet the average freshman class is between 6,600 and 7,400.
Fish seemed optimistic about future construction, stating, 'We're hoping to accomplish enough capacity for all freshman within 6 to 12 years.'
