UW launches major face-lift

Karyn Saemann

For current UW-Madison students, sidestepping construction work is part of life as the east campus undergoes a once-in-a-generation face-lift.

Some of the work is complete, with the second of two new dorms opening for the fall semester. The first opened in the fall of 2006. But this is just the start. Future students will reap the full benefit.

New art, humanities, music and general classroom buildings are envisioned to be built here over the next decade, as well as a seven-block-long pedestrian mall.

Ogg Hall, built in 1965 at 716 W. Dayton St., will be replaced with green space. The second new dorm, at Park and Dayton streets, will carry the Ogg name.

Also currently under construction is a $190 million, 11-story retail, office and residential complex that is replacing the University Square shopping center.

The demolition of office and other buildings in the area, as well as renovations to the Memorial Union and the Chadbourne and Barnard residence halls, also are proposed.

If a new state financial aid initiative proceeds as planned, more students from Wisconsin may call the campus home as the construction dust finally settles a few years from now.

Last spring, as part of Gov. Jim Doyle 's new Wisconsin Covenant, eighth-graders throughout the state can sign a contract in which they promised to stay in high school, stay out of trouble and maintain a B academic average while taking college prep courses. In exchange, if they meet application deadlines, Doyle has pledged to guarantee them a spot after high school graduation at a UW System or Wisconsin Technical College campus, or at a private college in the state.

Doyle also has pledged to help future students finance their education through loans, grants and/or work study programs.

For general information on UW-Madison, go to www.wisc.edu.