Preserving the Past at Memorial Union

When Memorial Union opened its doors in 1928, it was built to serve as the campus living room for a student body of about 8,000. With enrollment now topping 41,000 students and over 13,000 faculty and staff members – Memorial Union is no longer equipped to meet the spatial, technological and accessibility needs of today’s student body, much less tomorrow’s students.

Students, faculty, staff and Union members have asked the Wisconsin Union to:

• Preserve Memorial Union as a campus landmark
• Deal with significant maintenance issues and address safety concerns
• Increase student activity space
• Preserve the long-term role of the historic Union Theater
• Improve working conditions and wheel chair accessibility
• Restore historic spaces while preserving recent investments, such as the Main Lounge and the nearby entrance on the 2nd floor

Based on feedback from campus, the Student Union Initiative was developed to meet those demands. Here are some highlights of proposed changes:

• Outdoor amenities: Rest rooms, food stands, new stage
• Hoofers expansion: Increased lakefront presence, improved program and activity space, new piers
• Lake view lounge: New student study lounge and event space, expanded upper level terrace
• New accessible entrance on Langdon Street and improved accessibility options for all areas
• Other Terrace and lakefront improvements

Specific plans to preserve Memorial Union

The Student Union Initiative aims to solve some of the following Memorial Union deficiencies.

Accessibility:

• There are many parts of the building that are not accessible to those with limited mobility
• The Park Street entrance is impossible to navigate by wheelchair.
• Some rooms and spaces are entirely inaccessible.
• Lower level including Games Room, Hoofers, ASM Student Print
• Box Office
• Restrooms – none on 5th floor, 2nd, 3rd floor commons wing, or in the Theater, guest room toilets are inaccessible
• The wheelchair lift to Great Hall is no longer code compliant.
• Frequent meeting rooms Rosewood, Studio A, Studio B

Hazardous Materials:

• Most of the asbestos-containing materials have been removed during renovation projects, but some still remain in flooring, mastic and pipe wrap.
• Window air conditioners containing Freon and lighting ballasts in older fixtures should be removed.

Energy Conservation:

• The current building is very inefficient to heat and cool. Original single-pane windows, poorly insulated exterior walls and a 30+ year old roof keep the building vulnerable to wind, cold temperatures and moisture and could be replaced with high performance models that maintain the Union's historical character.
• The original wiring and plumbing can be replaced with energy efficient technology to save energy costs.

Operational Obstacles and Safety :

• The fire alarm system is circa 1978, while the Theater’s system was last updated in 1984. The system is not equipped with strobe lights and horns, required today by those with sight and audio challenges. While the current system does work, it does not comply with today’s building codes.
• Presently there are difficulties getting materials and equipment like tables and chairs to where they need to be within the building.  Access is challenging for food service, meeting room coordinators, facilities staff, etc.
• When the building was constructed in 1928, computers were science fiction. Wiring throughout the building needs considerable upgrading and more rooms need to be fitted with internet access. 
• Sprinkler system, plans ensures building historic integrity

Timeline

Phase 1
• New South Campus Union Construction
• Memorial Union Theater Wing Renovation
• 2008-20010

Phase 2
• Memorial Union Central Wing Renovation
• 2010-2012

Phase 3
• Memorial Union Commons Wing Renovation
• 2012-2014