Design teams from Madison and Philadelphia, who are collaborating on the renovation of both Union South and Memorial Union, presented eight potential designs to the Wisconsin Union's leadership team to review Tuesday night.
\The initial plans were presented to the leadership team and they're reviewing them right now,"" said Marc Kennedy, marketing specialist for the Union.
According to Kennedy, since there are so many scenarios and interests to consider, the leadership team may take a long time to reach any decision or consensus on the options presented.
""There will be a great deal of back and forth before there is anything decided,"" Kennedy said.
Rob Staude, president of the Wisconsin Union Directorate, said he agreed the project would take anywhere from eight to 12 years to complete. According to Staude, the two unions do not meet fire and handicapped access codes, but the university receives no fines since the buildings are grandfathered into almost all ordinances.
""Just because we're not violating doesn't mean that there aren't improvements that could be made,"" Staude said.
Staude said he hopes the master plan's design team will have the preliminary phases designed and ready for the Memorial Union's 75th anniversary next October. The project is actually ahead of schedule, according to Cliff Goodhart, the project's manager.
Goodhart, of Strang Construction in Madison, represents one faction of the three-member design team. Each team brings specific expertise to the project.
""[The Philadelphia firm, Venturi Scott Brown] has a broader experience in campus master planning and student life facilities,"" Goodhart said.
Venturi also planned projects at Harvard, Princeton and just recently completed a master plan for the University of Michigan, according to Goodhart. Isthmus Construction specializes in historic preservation.
""[Strang has] specific experience within the Union buildings themselves,"" Goodhart said.
Goodhart also mentioned the plan would take a long time to complete because of its many stages.
According to Goodhart, stages include ""all the planning, fundraising, the time it takes to get approved through the state building process, time to design the specific projects, and then finally all the phases of construction.""
The leadership team and designers interviewed over 80 students, according to Staude, but still need more student input. Students wanting to give opinions can e-mail union@union.wisc.edu.
