Coordinators for the Memorial Union Reinvestment project formally released plans for the second phase of the Union construction Monday and held an open forum to receive input from the public about the potential designs.
In 2006, students approved a referendum initiative with the objective of preserving the value of the Memorial Union while upgrading and refurbishing the nearly 80-year-old building, according to the project’s website.
Phase I of the reinvestment project is underway and includes renovations to the west wing and fifth floor of the building that house Hoofers and the Union Theater.
At the forum, architects presented preliminary floor plans, site plans and design concepts for the second phase of the project. After the presentation, attendees viewed and commented on four stations, which illustrated designs for the Terrace, first floor dining, including Der Rathskeller, a two-story coffee shop and general floor plans.
UW-Madison senior Troy Henkel said he had mixed feelings about the design plans. For the first floor dining area, Henkel said he liked the idea of a direct walkthrough area from Der Rathskeller to the Terrace, but counter lines often get very long during lunch hours, and the area could end up feeling congested.
Henkel also said he hopes the MUR will incorporate feedback from the meeting into the plans.
“I just think the people who are really making the decisions and doing the architecture aren’t the people who use it day in and day out, so they might not know the little ins and outs of where issues lie or what things are good and what’s bad,” Henkel said.
According to Katie Cary, student project manager for the project, recorders were in place at each station to collect feedback. Cary said she will report the input back to the project’s design committee, which will make adjustments and approve the designs. The final plans will be recommended to Union Council and presented to various other groups for approval.
The MUR hopes to reach approval from these entities in early spring 2014, and begin construction for Phase II immediately after Phase I is completed in early summer or fall 2014.
