Newell J. Smith Hall set to open Aug. 30

The University of Wisconsin–Madison is preparing for a milestone: the opening of Newell J. Smith Hall.

Located at 35 N. Park St. (see map), the six-floor, 425-bed building is the first major residence hall to open on campus since Ogg Hall in 1965.

It will open to students beginning with fall move-in on Wednesday, Aug. 30.

The building has numerous innovations and features designed to help students succeed academically, including classrooms on the first floor, a tutoring office and study spaces located throughout the building. Smith Hall also features central air conditioning in resident rooms and a deli-style cafe with specialty foods, including kosher items.

The project, including utility work, land, construction and pedestrian mall development, cost $37.5 million.

“We’re excited about this new facility,” says University Housing Director Paul Evans. “We have a beautiful, state-of-the-art building to offer to UW–Madison students. We’re also honoring one of the most influential figures in student life at this university over the past century.”

The building’s namesake, Newell J. Smith, 87, served as Housing director from 1955-83 and was regarded as a national expert on student housing during an era of tumultuous change.

He began his career in 1941 and served Housing continuously — with the exception of his service in World War II — until his retirement. During his tenure, enrollment at UW–Madison almost doubled and the number of residents in University Housing almost tripled. Smith was frequently consulted by universities throughout the United States and Canada, as well as numerous other public agencies.

In addition to honoring Smith, the building’s 10 houses, or wings, are named for distinguished individuals who played a role in the history of housing on campus. Each house accommodates 70 students and one House Fellow. Each floor will have two houses.

Before designing and building Smith Hall, Evans and other staff members surveyed current students and toured new residence halls across the country to incorporate the best trends in new construction and campus life.

Ultimately, it was decided that students would live in an environment of “clusters,” in which two double rooms and one single room share a common bathroom. Designers took the step of making bathrooms accessible through the hallway to increase interaction among students and to make it easier for the bathrooms to be cleaned by Housing staff.

Among the building’s other important features:

• Security: The new hall offers state-of-the-art security, including cameras at building entrances, card-access entry and alarms detecting doors that have been propped open.
• Focus on academics: The first floor has classrooms for UW–Madison courses, a tutoring room and advising offices. Two study rooms are located on each residential floor, and a study room also can be found on the first floor.
• Enhanced room controls: Residents can adjust each room’s temperature.
• Kitchens: A kitchen is located on every floor for resident use.
• Connections to campus: A newly constructed bike path and pedestrian mall, including a tunnel under nearby train tracks, connects the southernmost residence hall to campus.

Smith was the one of the most-requested residence halls for 2006-07. Students who were selected in the random lottery for assignment in Smith Hall will pay an additional $750 over the double-room rate.

Oscar J. Boldt Construction Co. managed the project.