Lakefront Gateway project detailed for Downtown Rotary

Alan Fish, associate vice chancellor for facilities at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, asked a crowded conference hall how many had ever been to Memorial Union.

Nearly all of the people in attendance raised a hand.

Fish followed by asking how many consider the Union one of their favorite places. Again, nearly everyone in the room put their hand up.

That kind of affection for the Memorial Union and Terrace served as a guiding principle for the Lakefront Gateway project, Fish said.

“We had to approach this project with a strong historical perspective respecting the deep connection with the Union shared by so many people. Because this room is not alone,” Fish said during a presentation to Madison Downtown Rotary members on Wednesday.

Lakefront Gateway encompasses three major initiatives, renovation of the Memorial Union, shoreline improvements and the addition of Alumni Park between the Union and the Red Gym. Together, the project is designed to create a synergy that provide new green space, better recreational opportunities, and needed safety and accessibility updates to the historic Memorial Union.

Fish said he’s heard some concerns about changes to one of the union’s most popular features, the Terrace. But he said the Terrace as it is currently composed, with a large concrete seating area that includes a bandstand and brat stand, is a fairly recent development. Those features weren’t added to the Terrace until the late 1980s.

“It’s really been constantly evolving since 1929,” he said.

The project will maintain the character of the Terrace while expanding seating area and improving access to the lake, Fish said. The addition of Alumni Park is a complement to the Terrace and a capstone to the East Campus Mall project, which links the Kohl Center to the south with Lake Mendota to the north. The Terrace will remain open throughout the four-year Lakefront Gateway project, he said.

The first phase of the project, which begins next summer, will expand and update the Union Theater and incorporate necessary mechanical systems updates to the Memorial Union building. Currently there are 13 different levels at the Union, making much of the building a challenge for disabled patrons.

The first phase $52 million project is expected to begin next summer and end by the summer 2014. A second phase will renovate the union’s central wing, commons wing and adjacent areas and will be completed in 2017. Alumni Park and the Terrace expansion will be completed as part of the second phase.