The Urban Design Committee granted initial approval of the Charter Street Heating Plant upgrades on Wednesday. The project includes demolishing the current coal-burning Charter Street Heating Plant and replacing it with an environmentally friendly biomass plant.
The initial proposal passed unanimously by the committee members and the site is set to undergo construction this summer, if approved by the city council.
""This project will stimulate not only a biomass industry in Madison, but will also transfer it throughout the state,"" UW-Madison Associate Vice Chancellor of Facilities Planning and Management Alan Fish said.
""Transparency is a large part of our design,"" Robert Mangas, an agent of the proposal and representative for Potter-Lawson Architects, said.
""We are trying a new concept of showing as much equipment as possible; pedestrians will be able to see part of the conveyor inside the plant,"" said Mangas.
Mangas detailed plans of implementing lights in the plant during nightfall. An iridescent lighting design is set to illuminate objects in the plant. Softly illuminated objects will glow throughout the plant and will be observable to traffic.
""This is different than anything we have ever done before,"" said Fish. ""We want to celebrate the fact that this is a transitional building in the center of campus.""
Since it is a transitional process and the old building will be demolished, Fish said the builders will work in stages.
""We can't just turn off the plant (and the University) while constructing the new one,"" Fish said.
Mangas and Fish are currently working with prospective contractors about the issue while also trying to obtain permits from the Office of the Commissioner of Railroads and Department of Transportation.
Committee member Jay Ferm suggested implementing an informational tour that would show the crops that actually go into the heating plant itself.
Committee member Mark Smith also recommended transforming the wall lining the bike path into an armature for all the art students on campus.
""Adding art on campus, while incorporating it into the new plant would be a great way to have synergy with the students,"" Smith said.
