The State Street Oversight Advisory Committee unanimously approved the new look to an aged State Street Thursday.
The new facelift includes landscaping, lighting, engineering and a new logo.
\The logo tells a story about State Street through a graphic thumbprint which represents the festive mood of State Street, but also the stability of the university up to the Capitol,"" said Melanie Kranz, vice president of ZD Studios Visual Brand and member of the State Street design team.
The team was selected from four final teams. The majority of the team members are local residents of Madison, who said they take pride in helping to renovate a Madison landmark in their own city.
""The community [of Madison] is very supportive. Our objective is to take a successful design [of State Street] and make it better, such as maintenance and design,"" landscaper Ken Saiki, of Ken Saiki Design said.
The renovations will take place in approximately five phases so not to disrupt the flow of Madison's popular blocks. The first phase will begin and end in 2004.
The designs will now be forwarded to the city council.
The committee and design team said the community as a whole has positively received the overall concept of the renovations. However, some merchants are still concerned about the effect construction could have on business.
City Council President Mike Verveer, District 4, said he is confident the city and team of consultants and contractors will do all they can to lessen business disruption. ""I would be horrified if people on campus and in the community would think that State Street is closed or inaccessible. We want to help stop the perception that State Street is closed,"" Verveer said.
