Memorial Union construction set to begin
Memorial Union visitors will begin to see construction fences go up the week of June 18 in preparation for the first phase of the Memorial Union Reinvestment project.
Here is an architect’s rendering of the renovation of the Union’s west wing.
The affected areas will include Lot 1 and the building’s southwest corner, where Langdon Street and Park Street intersect.
In 2006, UW–Madison students voted two-to-one to pay to replace the outdated Union South and upgrade and renovate Memorial Union to enable the building to flourish for another 100 years.
The renovation, which will be completed in phases, will restore the historic building while adding modern technology and improving infrastructure using the latest green standards promoting sustainability and energy efficiency while improving accessibility for all.
The first phase of the project will focus on the building’s west wing, with a projected completion date of June 2014.
Parking impacts
A portion of Lot 1, between Memorial Union and the Red Gym, will be fenced off for construction staging. All vehicle parking spaces will be eliminated except for a few stalls for UW disability permit parking. A walkway through Lot 1 will allow pedestrians to safely access the Terrace. An area for bike parking will also be added to Lot 1.
Despite losing Lot 1 vehicle parking, visitors will have various options in the nearby vicinity, with more than 1,400 visitor stalls within three blocks of Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St. For details about alternative parking options, click here.
In addition, some construction gear will be stored on Library Mall, across from Lot 1.
Construction at the Union’s southwest corner
The southwest corner of Memorial Union will also be fenced off. Covered walkways along the fencing will enable pedestrians to walk safely around the construction site. Bike parking areas will be added to Lot 1 and along the Helen C. White parking garage on Park Street to make up for bike parking that will be impacted by the fencing. The fencing will not impact access to the Terrace from Park Street.
Operations at the Union
The summer Terrace music (Tuesday through Saturday evenings) and film series (Monday nights) will continue without interruption. While the bulk of Memorial Union’s west wing will close in early July — including the Union Theater and the Union Craftshop — Hoofers and Outdoor Rentals will remain open until late August to help minimize the renovation’s impact on lakeside activities. Other areas of the building will also remain open throughout the duration of the construction in the west wing.
More than 13,000 students, faculty, staff, Union members and other stakeholders contributed to the design process by answering surveys and polls, serving in task groups and committees or attending open forums to help preserve the past while building the future.
No tax dollars were used to build the new Union South or renovate Memorial Union. The building will continue to be funded via student segregated fees, operating revenue and donations.