Union seeks faculty, staff input on improvement plan

The Wisconsin Union is inviting UW–Madison faculty, staff and Union members to an informal gathering at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10, at Memorial Union to learn more about the Union’s Facilities Improvement Plan (WUFIP) and how they can participate in the process by providing feedback and making suggestions.

There will be hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.

The facilities improvement plan, still a work in progress, is focused on possible changes to both Memorial Union and Union South. In particular, the plan will take into consideration ideas related to preserving and upgrading Memorial Union.

According to Union director Mark Guthier, “While nearly everyone at UW–Madison loves Memorial Union, there are serious fire safety, ventilation, access and other issues that must be addressed in order to care for the long-term needs of this very special building.”

The plan also will identify ways to revitalize Union South. Options under consideration include a top-to-bottom renovation of the existing facility or tearing down the existing building and constructing a new Union South that is better designed to meet the needs of today’s campus community.

The event will feature a brief presentation of the broad WUFIP concepts so far, followed by a question-and-answer session during which faculty and staff can participate. Faculty and staff unable to attend the session can still comment.

More open forums and public meetings will be held, and people can comment or make suggestions about the plan at http://www.union.wisc.edu.

For more information about this event or WUFIP, contact Gwen Drury, masterplan@union.wisc.edu.