Renovation renaissance underway

The construction boom continues at a steady pace on the UW–Madison campus.

For the last several years, the university has been in the midst of a building and renovation renaissance, with multiple major projects underway and others nearing completion as the campus labors to update itself.

The School of Pharmacy Building will be complete by May 1, after which time the school will move into the facility, according to Bruce Braun, assistant vice chancellor for Facilities Planning and Management. The Waisman Center addition, meanwhile, is finished except for the fourth floor, according to Braun.

Work began last spring on the Engineering Centers project and will last through December 2002. The McKay Center Addition and Native Wisconsin Garden project at the Arboretum is 80 percent complete and should be finished sometime this summer, officials say.

Remodeling in the Chemistry Building continues, with work scheduled to be completed in phases through 2002. The Babcock Hall ice cream parlor renovation and asbestos removal project is targeted for completion in July, as is the Memorial Union kitchen renovation.

Utilities projects of note include the chilled water extension from Henry Mall to Engineering Drive, which is nearly complete; and the boiler/chiller additions at the Walnut Street and Charter Street power plants, which are expected to be completed in May.

Construction workers finish lighting and ceiling work in the Pharmacy Building’s multipurpose room. (Photo: Jeff Miller)

Workers cover concrete forms with plastic to protect their work from wintry weekend weather at the Engineering Centers project. The foundation and ground floors are taking shape. (Photo: Jeff Miller)

Workers assemble office furniture for the Waisman Center addition, which will open this spring. (Photo: Jeff Miller)

A plastic tent confines workers removing asbestos floor tiles from Babcock Hall in preparation for remodeling there. (Photo: Jeff Miller)