SoHE New Building Blog

A welcome sight

2012-02-03T11:40:00.003-06:00

The program plan for the building calls for a separate and secure access point in the parking garage for parents and customers of the preschool lab. The project team challenged the architects to create a lobby in the parking garage that would "speak" to children - it should be interesting, fun and inviting. Boy did they deliver - the results will blow you away. Affectionately called the "peanut" (because on the drawings and construction documents it is actually shaped like a circus peanut) the preschool lobby has curved walls, energy efficient LED lighting and features to make the parking garage more friendly.

I walked through the parking garage this morning and holy cats, the lighting is the most SPECTACULAR thing I've seen in any building on this campus, let alone in a parking garage!

Who would have imagined the parking garage as an opportunity for interest?

As you plan to order business cards...

2012-01-28T11:39:00.004-06:00

...change of address forms, perhaps letterhead or update websites, the official name and address of the building is as follows:

Nancy Nicholas Hall
1300 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706

In the next two weeks the Dean will confirm to each department, project and unit their space assignments including office numbers.

And please don't forget to update your payroll information via "My-UW" or contact Ethel in Payroll and Benefits - efherbrand@wisc.edu if you have questions.

Reservations Suggested

2012-01-18T16:51:00.003-06:00

My colleague Sue Bruns and I were just talking about how much we both loved the tv show "Seinfeld" - memorable episodes include The Puffy Shirt, The Bubble Boy, The Junior Mint and who could forget The Bet.

Remember The Chinese Restaurant? Elaine, Jerry and George wait forever for a table in a restaurant because they didn't have a reservation.

We have more than 22 conference rooms in our new building that can accommodate meetings of just 2 people, up to Plenary Hall which holds more than 75. If you are interested in reserving a room in the new building (starting in mid-June) please send your request to:

roomrequest@mail.sohe.wisc.edu

Include the number of people, date, start time/end time for your meeting and we will work with you to schedule your meeting.

Okay, so the Seinfeld reference may be a stretch...but I wanted to get your attention - with this many rooms in our building coordination is key.

Speaking of keys - did you know all our instructional spaces including the computer labs will be card access? And the graduate student lounge is card access?

This is gonna be great.

A hope for the future

2012-01-06T13:21:00.008-06:00

New years is all about celebrations, perhaps a libation or two, and a leaving last year behind. One tradition my family and friends have is at midnight we burn the past year's calendar. As the ashes waft away we let go of the worries, appointments, angst and bad mojo from the past year. It's also a chance to chuckle over the annual Dad's camping trip, summer vacation in Door County with dear, dear friends and remind my husband this year we will be married 21 years. It is our way of making a new start each year.

The new building for the School of Human Ecology is in many ways a new and fresh start. Rooms are clean, carpets are new and the tile is polished to a bright sheen. There are no marks to cover, no leaking ceilings in the Textile Collection and no stains to clean. A new crop of freshmen will start this fall and their experience will only be in the new building.

Tucked quietly away in a secret location is a lucky talisman - the shovel given to Dean Douthitt by the board of visitors in 2004 to mark the Centennial and start the public phase of the building campaign. For more than seven years Robin has been toting this shovel to meetings and events, gathering signatures from donors, friends and allies. It reads like a "who's who." The initial thought was the shovel should be used at groundbreaking but there were more friends who had to sign it with inspiring wishes - it was hard to stop the momentum.

The shovel has been sealed up somewhere in the building and when the School is ready for another expansion, perhaps this artifact will be discovered.

There are only two people who know where it lives - Eric Plumer of JP Cullen (our contractor who personally placed it) and me. Eric is solid as a rock - he'll never tell. And there aren't enough cosmos in the world to make me talk.

But please, if anyone wants to try just give me a call -

Cheers!

Not Everyone Hopes for a White Christmas

2011-12-21T16:53:00.003-06:00

Have you seen the classic movie, "White Christmas" with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney? I watch this every year, root for snow to come to the Inn in Vermont (or it will fall into bankruptcy) and adore the finale when they all sing "White Christmas."

What does this have to do with the building? The fact we don't yet have snow is a boon for the project! Because the earth is not frozen, the contractors could lay sod and push forward on the landscape plans. Take a look at this photo taken yesterday-no this isn't air-brushed, this is real.

Happy holidays to you, and best wishes for the new year!

Peace-

Zwick

Christopher Columbus got it wrong

2011-12-08T11:48:00.010-06:00

The Dean of Continuing Studies, Jeff Russell, joined Dean Douthitt for a behind the scenes tour of the new building. Dean Russell (in the red hardhat) is a faculty member in the College of Engineering, who have been superb hosts while Human Ecology is in relocation.

Joining Deans Douthitt and Russell were members of the technology design team, Pro Audio (white hardhats). The first stop on the tour was the Wisconsin Idea Room, a large video conference room capable of seating up to 20 people. Adjacent to the room is a catering kitchen and a small break-out meeting room.

The group toured Collaborative Learning Hall, located on the second floor of the addition. This space has a flat floor and will support strong connections between students and instructors, as well as student to student, with multiple LCD panels and screens. This room can set up to 144 in groups of 8.

These spaces - and more - are programmed with flexible furniture and robust technology to serve multiple methods of teaching and learning. To think that instructors do not have to be limited to what speaker can be in Madison on a given day gives me chills. Imagine delivering a lecture from Ghana, or bringing in a policy expert in Washington to a morning class in Madison, real time.

The world is flat because technology removed the last barrier.

For more information how to take advantage of these resources for teaching and engagement activities, please contact Associate Dean Clif Barber or Director of Technology Services John Hilgers.

Schedule for Moving Home

2011-11-22T11:57:00.006-06:00

Over the past year all of our stakeholders have talked a great deal about the overall timeline and specific schedules needed for project completion—construction schedule, relocation schedule, schedule for furniture, and others. Along with team members Roberto Rengel and Rose Barroilhet, I attend the bi-weekly construction progress meetings so we can keep Human Ecology-specific deliverables on task and coordinate with JP Cullen. At these meetings schedule details are hammered out with the contractor for testing and balancing, when the building is to be cleaned, coordination with campus for fiber optics, and so on.

A major milestone is "substantial completion," the point in the project where the state (remember it's the state, not the campus, that holds the contract) in consultation with the campus, determines that the contractor is just about —but not quite—finished. The architect and campus develop a "punch list" of items that the contractor is still required to complete, but the progress of preparing to occupy the building may continue to move forward.

The time from substantial completion until the start of furniture delivery is busy and many tasks are executed. The internal systems (heating, ventilating, etc.) are tested and balanced, punch list items and technology interface with equipment continues, and many, many more details are confirmed. Furniture delivery—a massive undertaking coordinated and led by campus—won't begin until after this period of testing is complete. And having seen the draft schedule for furniture delivery and installation, I can verify this is a complex plan involving access to the Human Ecology loading dock, coordinating which vendors have access to the building elevators and for how long, and when the semi-trucks are allowed on campus.

The bottom line? The academic departments (CS, DS, HDFS, and IS) will be the first to move into the new building starting May 21, 2012, which means faculty, instructional spaces and the departments must be packed and ready to go.

The balance of Human Ecology units including Centers, administration and projects will immediately follow - keep checking this blog for information and updates.

Are you ready for some football?

2011-10-31T11:51:00.003-05:00

I love fall - between the Packers and the Badgers it's just heaven for football in Wisconsin. As an added bonus I park in campus parking Lot 17 which overlooks Camp Randall. No kidding - walking out to my car I can lean over the west side and look down on the practice fields. Or if I park on the top level I am eye-to-eye with Camp Randall. It's a pretty cool view.

Last Monday I was at the construction site and spent a bit of time walking the north side. Holy cats, it's stunning. As I stepped back on the Observatory walkway I got to wondering....just how long is the new complex?

According to our design team, the length of the new facility (existing and addition) is longer than a football field - 1.4 times the length of a football field from the end zone to end zone. Since our building has connections between the addition and existing that are uninterrupted, I should be able to drop a few pounds just walking east to west.

That is if I don't stop halfway at the cafe for a little nosh....you know, just to keep my energy up.

On Wisconsin!

Crane Foundation

2011-10-13T14:24:00.003-05:00

No, not talking about the International Crane Foundation, but the construction crane foundation.

A few weeks ago the large crane was taken down from the Human Ecology construction site. For over a year the crane was a fixture against the skyline, a symbol of Human Ecology strength as a member of the flock of cranes on campus. In June we met Sergio, our crane operator who shared the, shall we say...nuances... of spending 8 hours in the air. Once you meet the person who swings the big arm, it becomes personal. You could look at the webcam and see what Sergio was working on that day. It made me proud to think our crane was up there with similar beasts working on the Wisconsin Energy Institute, Union South or Biochem II. They are magnificent.

One of my colleagues asked what happens to the concrete pad the crane had been resting upon - excellent trivia question. Eric Plumer of JP Cullen tells me the crane pad for our project was an integrated part of the footings for the structure. This strategy has 2 benefits - saves on concrete by having the pad do "double duty" and keeps it out of the landfill.

Perhaps just a small plaque on the walkway, "Sergio flew here"

If we LEED, will you follow?

2011-10-10T09:28:00.002-05:00

One of the five principles of the Human Ecology building project relates to creating a "...high quality, healthy and energy responsible environment..."

While the project is currently trending LEED Gold certification thanks to the help of our design team and friends, it's important to think beyond achieving LEED and think about behavior changes.

Smoking will not be allowed in the building or within 25 feet of building entries or fresh air intakes. The design team also included a prohibition on smoking inside the building DURING construction to prevent materials from absorbing contaminants that can be released later during occupancy.

Personally speaking, I will be really glad to not have to run a smoke-filled gauntlet to get into the building during inclement weather.

Off the Record

2011-09-25T14:13:00.002-05:00

It seems like not that long ago we talked about the need to reduce paper files, and the anxiety that sometimes comes with the transition. When we relocated out of the building at 1300 Linden Drive, we made a massive leap forward to transfer information into electronic formats. The hum of the "Snap-Scan" was up and down the hall - the sound of moving into the next phase of records management. Departments, administration and centers took advantage of this opportunity to streamline operations and leverage record keeping in the clouds.

Now that we are preparing to move back to the building some things have changed - we are more nimble, have fewer file cabinets and have a better "carbon footprint" because we are not printing so much material.

But because we are a public enterprise there are still rules and regulations about what records must be stored in hard copy, what we are required to keep on premises, what is appropriate to send to Archives and what (or when) is the protocol for final disposition.

The campus has an excellent resource to help answer some of your questions - University Archives and Records Management (ARMS.) Please take a few minutes and look at their website:
http://archives.library.wisc.edu/

Letting go of hard copies can be a blessing - I've got about 90% of the building information stored electronically. Occasionally I freak out my team member Roberto because I can search and pull material faster than anything, because it's stored electronically.

I know, can you believe it?! When I move back, the materials in the single 5-drawer cabinet (which is all building stuff) will be cataloged and sent to Archives, along with the contents of a 2-drawer cabinet.

Now if I can just clean up my desk at home....

Mighty Neighborly

2011-09-15T15:16:00.005-05:00

Oh, just another kind of outdoor game,
One on a side.
It comes to little more:
There where it is we do not need the wall:
He is all pine and I am apple orchard.
My apple trees will never get across
And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him.
He only says, "Good fences make good neighbors.

"Mending Wall" Robert Frost (1874-1963)

To the left, construction of the preschool playground retaining wall begins.

Below is a view of the pedestrian walk-way between Ag Hall and the Preschool playground.

Key Area

2011-09-06T15:37:00.007-05:00

It wasn't until I started on this project that I came to appreciate the role keys play in my everyday life. A key still starts my car (working towards a Prius), unlocks my office and secures a bike lock. I use special limes for key lime pie, work on a keyboard, write key points for a presentation and about twenty years ago, I gave my husband the key to my heart.

Fast forward to this time next year when we are in the new building....the days of issuing keys to hundreds of students will be gone and in its place - card access.

Security and access is important - the safety of students and staff was a major topic for the Building Committee. During peak times of the semester undergraduate students will be working at all hours to complete a class project, graduate students may be pushing hard to meet a funded project deadline - we are not a group that fits nicely into a 9-5 scenario.

The beauty of card access is the ability to quickly grant (or remove) access without having to handle a key. With a few short keystrokes (you can boo) the facility manager will be able to add or remove access priviledges for anyone with a valid WISCARD.

For those who "pooh pooh" card access thinking students will just prop open the door, we've got you covered. Each door with card access is connected to the campus Police so if a door is open for more than the allowed time (it's wicked short) then an alarm is sent to Police. The data will show the last person to swipe their card...you see where I am headed. This is serious business.

My key ring is getting lighter - now all I have are keys to the car, my house and suite at work. And guaranteed, I'll still forget where I put them.

The Hills are Alive

2011-09-01T13:37:00.004-05:00

I've been out of town on a much needed (as my office mates will attest) vacation and spent a chunk of the morning yesterday walking the construction site with my team member Roberto.

And look what we saw - the north hillside has been cleared (thanks to the goats) and what was once overgrown with nasty scrub, weeds and...well... crappy plants....is being transformed into a marvelous landscape. It was so cool to see a small herd of bobcats whipping up, down and all around this area - moving dirt, placing rock and prepping the area for plantings.

Thanks to the talents of Ken Saiki Design and the good folks in the campus office of Landscape Planning, the view to the north will be simply glorious.

If a tree falls in the woods...

2011-08-15T15:40:00.004-05:00

...chances are it will be used on the roof terrace for the School of Human Ecology.

The designer has sourced the wood for the benches that will grace this stunning space by using a combination of fallen trees and fallen or no-longer-used utility poles. The wood will come from Northern Michigan, is white oak which is indigenous to the Midwest.

It's all about me!

2011-08-10T12:21:00.006-05:00

I don't know if this is a sign of age or control - if I have a task that I want to make sure gets addressed before leaving for work, I put a "Post-It" note on the back door. Last night I stuck up a note to bring tomatoes and jalapeno peppers in to work.

I prep the coffee pot (for me), fill the tea ball (for Paul) and set two mugs/spoons on the counter the night before.

I reconcile the checkbook every day (because I can't convince he-who-shall-not-be-named that yes, the money does come out of our account the moment you use your ATM card, not when you enter it in the checkbook)

And have added a "countdown" clock to the Building section of the Human Ecology website, counting the days/hours until we begin the migration of instructional spaces and offices back to the new building - May 21, 2012.
http://www.sohe.wisc.edu/new/about/newbuildingintro.html

Writing this I wonder, is this a sign of age? That I will forget something as small as morning coffee or the promised garden-ripe tomatoes for a friend? Am I super organized? A control freak?

Or a super freak.

Meat Product or Helpful Tool?

2011-08-09T14:11:00.008-05:00

Today I spent a good chunk of my morning in a meeting to discuss and decide trash and recycling containers for the new building. No kidding, locations of what trash container would go into what room. Up until now the only "Slim Jim" in my world was a dehydrated jerky product or a tool used when I lock my keys in the car; and a "Brute" was an oaf who cut in front of me at the bar.

For those of you who are wondering, we decided the Dean's office was no place for a "brute" - sometimes I crack myself up!

Doris gave me a polite chuckle, but that's because we share an office.

Preschool Petting Farm Receives first Resident

2011-07-28T10:03:00.010-05:00

"Snippity-snip, snap and swill,
The tale begins upon a hill…"

Three Billy Goats Gruff, a Norwegian folktale.

This week the first members of the Preschool Petting Farm arrived at 1300 Linden Drive, safe and sound. Happy and hungry, 32 goats call the north hillside of the Human Ecology building project home. What a delight - they are a herd of friendly and most efficient goats. They will spend their days munching on Buckthorn, a particular favorite, and are happy to be part of our community.

Giraffes will be added to the family as soon as we get approval - there may be concern the giraffe heads could be seen from Linden Drive. As I learned during the discussions over the green roof, seeing heads - human or otherwise - from Linden Drive is just not historically accurate.

"All summer long they ate the lovely green grass in both meadows until they all grew quite fat. And they walked back and forth over the troll-free bridge whenever they wanted."

Snippity-snip, snap and snout,
This little tale has been told out!"

For the real story, click on this link:

http://www.news.wisc.edu/19605

New Building will have a New Name!

2011-07-14T15:37:00.011-05:00

In 2004 School of Human Ecology alumna Nancy Johnson Nicholas, with her husband "Ab" Nicholas, provided the $8 million lead gift for the building project. Eight years later, the name "Nancy Nicholas Hall" will grace the new entry at the Link - where the addition and the existing building converge (see image to the right)

Click here to read the news story:
http://www.news.wisc.edu/19561

I remember the event hosted by Dean Douthitt to announce the lead gift -it was far from the stuffy and formal press conferences you might expect. It was an ice cream party where the whole school was invited to celebrate with Nancy and Ab Nicholas. Faculty, students, staff, friends from campus all came for a scoop and a handshake, to personally thank Nancy and Ab. The Dean had asked the preschool children to draw pictures of what they would like to see in a new building, and she had the drawings bound and presented it to Nancy - a brilliant and very personal gesture.

I went to the party and offered my thanks to which Nancy said "oh my, don't thank me" and she was quite sincere. After a few minutes of mingling and chatting, I walked back to my office thinking "oh how nice, a new building" - I had been part of the staff for less than a year. Little did I know what was in store.

The Nicholas family together has most generously supported the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Their quiet philanthropy is a marvel.

Oh, and a note about the children's ideas for what should be in the new building - unfortunately for this project we were not able to accommodate requests for a pool, a candy mountain or a lot of ponies. Those notes are in my file for "Building Project Phase Two: Expansion to the East."

Another First

2011-06-27T09:32:00.006-05:00

The building project is a cascade of "firsts" for me -- from learning the difference between a concrete and steel structure, to Environmental Impact Statements, to learning that "10,000 rubs" isn't about a magic lamp - last Thursday I attended my first beam signing.

The good folks at JP Cullen orchestrated the construction part while Human Ecology handled the celebration end of things - we do love an excuse to party. More than 100 people attended, enjoyed Babcock ice cream and signed the last beam that would connect the historic building to the new addition. Then the beam was raised and spot welded into place. I admit, I got a little emotional - combination of relief and joy. What a milestone to reach.

Beam me up!

2011-06-16T12:30:00.005-05:00

It seems like these past few months I've been pumping out communications that start with the line, "...we have reached an important milestone in the building project..." so it will come as no surprise to you that I've got another one!

On June 23, 2011 the good folks at JP Cullen will be lifting the final connecting beam, primed and painted white, into place to complete the structure for the Link, bringing the addition and the existing building together. Now this milestone can be listed among other transforming connections such as the Chunnel, linking of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroad, and the Hadron Collider.

Ya gotta think big...unless you living on the edge, you're taking up too much room.

Helium: Friend or Foe?

2011-05-23T15:25:00.004-05:00

As part of preparing to "operationalize" the new building, the Day One Readiness team has been working over the past few months to identify best practices and wherever possible, gather written (or web) examples.

I have been reading the "Facility Use Guidelines" adopted by the good folks at the UW-Madison Health Sciences Learning Center (HSLC) - it's a thorough document with lots of links to campus guidelines. For instance, there's no need to write a whole big process for catering, because the University has clear guidelines and policies.

And sure, it would be really easy to draft a lot of rules and regulations about keeping the spaces clean and to pick up after yourself but we are all adults.

But helium balloons, now that's a good one.

When I first read the policy banning helium balloons I thought, "well, that Med School is really stuffy. I mean really, who could begrudge a few bright red balloons to welcome students back in September? Or a colleagues birthday celebration, a bouquet of Mylar balloons swaying about?"

Then I remembered we have two major spaces in the new building with ceilings two stories high. The Link and the Concourse are both jewels - and there is nothing more pitiful than watching a couple of balloons begin the painful journey back down as they slowly leak their Helium.

In some facilities on campus Helium balloons are not allowed because they can set off fire alarms and are considered a safety risk. Maybe we should just have a practice that if someone is using these balloons, they need to dispose of the gas the old fashioned way...sucking it in and talking funny.

I'll need to dig a little deeper.

On a Clear Day

2011-05-10T11:47:00.004-05:00

Loving life here on campus -- we are just a few short days away from commencement, parking will be a little easier and I won't have to schedule meetings around class change times (driving anywhere around campus during class change means you have to factor in an additional 15 minutes.)

Most of all I am thinking that in just 12 months we will begin moving into our new building. On a day like today when it's a comfortable 75 degrees, sun shining and a light breeze I imagine sitting on the roof terrace of Human Ecology. To the north I will see Washburn Observatory, peek to the west and linger on stately Ag Hall, then full east to take in the glory of our new addition. At night the 100 Women scuplture on the glass wall will be lit with energy effecient LED lights, creating a totally different feel for the area.

I'm counting the days.

Planning the Migration

2011-05-03T10:09:00.005-05:00

I could get all clever and talk about the great migrations of our time...bird migration, the Migration Policy Institute, the monarch butterfly, or for smarties, migration as defined by the movement of one atom or more from one position to another within a molecule.

This time I am talking about the Human Ecology migration back to 1300 Linden Drive, going home.

I just sent an email to the good folks at Facilities Planning and Management (FP&M) to let them know at the last all-School meeting we let everyone know they are expected to be packed and ready to move by May 21, 2012. Packing crates will arrive sometime in March/April.

The last day of class is May 11 and finals go through May 19, 2012 and the faculty 9-month contract ends May 27.

Just two semesters to go and we are in the new building!

Double Life

2011-04-26T10:09:00.004-05:00

Yup, it's official, I seem to be living a double life.

At yesterday's general faculty meeting I gave a presentation, albeit brief, about the status of "Day One Readiness" - the pseudo military name we've given to the operation to prepare the faculty and staff for occupying the new building. I delivered the information via my new Ipad2, thereby modeling the promise of technology rich spaces and greater flexibility. So, one life I live is dependent on technology, big messages and broad strokes of information so as not to freak anyone out.

Earlier that day I poured through the sign schedule proposed by our talented environmental branding experts from ZD Studio. I had a magnifying glass in one hand and a pencil in the other marking the large floorplans because as those who work closest to me know we have more than 513 areas of the project that will need signs - from the basic code signs that tell you where to exit in case of emergency, to what's to be found in the elevator lobby. They know this because I've been whining about it since this past January. This life is rooted in detail, flipping tiny, painful, minute detail.

But you know what? Even when I am hunched over a floorplan, thinking about what doors will have an access code versus a key, or how many chairs we may need for the cafe, I remind myself what we do is transforming.

On Wisconsin!

The Coffee Generation

2011-03-31T15:53:00.005-05:00

Okay I admit it, I am old. I can say that not just because I turned fifty last week (boo hoo) but because when I think about coffee a really old , very nostaligic ad campaign hits me - describing the "coffee generation" and "coffee achievers" - check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rea-yBgOSo Way back when coffee was described as the drink that "picks you up and calms you down" - only Madison Avenue could have crafted such a brilliant line. Coffee achievers in this ad spot include David Bowie (really? David Bowie?) and Kurt Vonnegut, the brilliant mind of "Slaughterhouse-Five." I love my java...and in just about a year I will be able to get a cup o'joe in the cafe of the new building. The cafe is located on the second floor, visible from the Link and across the way from the Student Clubs area, making this a lively juncture. The Union will be operating the cafe and if one thing is clear, it's that our students, staff and faculty run on coffee -- and its gotta be good coffee. But what else should the Union be thinking about in terms of menu and offerings? Take a few moments and share your opinion by clicking the link below for a quick, online survey: https://uwmadison.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_b1Qy2jnATpm2qmE If it's good enough for David Bowie, that's all I need to know.

Rock My World

2011-03-17T14:05:00.007-05:00

It's my new obsession...sheetrock.

Frankly I feel a little freaked out that while I have been watching the web-cam of the construction of the new addition, there has been a frenzy of activity in the existing building. My 17-year old daughter would say I am "hovering" or a control freak, but the construction camera doesn't tell the whole story. I can't seem to get other there fast enough to track all the progress in the existing building-it's like a huge beehive. Just a few short weeks ago, most talented photographer Lori Ushman and I were strolling around open floors, weaving in and out of metal studs. And now I find out the construction has progressed to a stage where the walls are about 2/3 sheetrocked (or as they say in the trade, rocked).

What the heck? I'm not mentally prepared - I've been looking at paper plans for so long I get woozy.

So yesterday I drove over to the site, pulled on my Wellington boots and walked up to the third floor. Yup, the walls are up in the Interior Design studios, faculty offices and the department office. I stood in the new space specifically for critiques, nestled in between two studios. It's wicked cool.

My world is officially rocked.

Are you mocking me?

2011-03-10T10:17:00.011-06:00

I may have mentioned this a few times, but I am learning more about design and construction every day. Some experiences have already paid off - I've switched my dining room light fixture from traditional glass to a drum shade and the result was dramatic. Simple change you say? In my house, nothing is simple but that's a story for another day.

The thing that now has me really intrigued is the construction mock-up.

For years I've seen these modest installations on construction sites and never knew what they were. When Microbial Sciences was being built, I thought the mock-up was actually an elevator lobby. One person told me it was where the electric was connected to the rest of campus. A third thought it was the start of a bus shelter designed to match the building.

We were all wrong.

The mock-up is a valuable tool for the architects, contractors and campus. Built outside on the construction site, these "mini-buildings" are constructed with the exact materials specified for the project and are representations for viewing and inspecting how each material performs and if needed, make adjustments. For instance, the team may look at different colors of mortar, or test the reflectivity of glass. I learned the mock-up is useful for testing the structure for air infiltration or water penetration, and believe it or not to test for seismic movement.

The mock-up for Human Ecology is slated to begin in the next few weeks - it should be really great.

I've Changed my Mind

2011-03-04T12:24:00.011-06:00

Now I think the wood posts (in place while the concrete cures in the new addition)...

...look more like idols from Easter Island.

Cool New Space

2011-03-04T10:21:00.010-06:00

One of the most impressive areas in the complex will be the Concourse, located on the west end of the third floor in the new addition. The third floor of the addition has been poured and the contractor is working on the fourth and final floor - this photo taken March 2 is from the perspective of standing in the Concourse looking up towards the fourth floor-Centers area.

The south facing glass wall will be two stories high, and when complete this special gathering space will serve as a point of connection for students, faculty, and visitors.

Land Shark Siting

2011-02-28T12:51:00.010-06:00

Candy gram.

Described as a "cunning urban predator" Land Shark is indeed the "cleverest of all the sharks".

This one was sited in the existing building, waiting silently in the hallway outside the new Dean's suite.

C'mon, who doesn't remember "Land Shark", the character from the glory days of Saturday Night Live? Season One?

Guess I am that old.

A Chemical Peel

2011-02-28T12:38:00.011-06:00

The Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection - roughly 13,000 items - was for decades kept in a tighly packed storage space in the existing building. The storage room was on the south side of the building, windows covered with wallboard to prevent sunlight and help keep the environment at a consistent level.

As part of the existing building rennovation, the walls of the old storage room have been taken down and the windows are uncovered - and we get a glimpse of the paint colors through the years, before the windows were boarded. This photo is of a very large sheet of paint (about 6-8") that literally peeled off the walls of room 333.

The new storage space for the textile collection is greatly expanded, will have state-of-the art controls to manage the environment within the storage area and - here's the kicker - more space!

I, for one, am looking forward to the renewed and refreshed spaces.

And the Oscar goes to...

2011-02-28T12:14:00.004-06:00

(Elevator) Shaft
Perhaps we can have the theme from "Shaft" as elevator music...that's one bad motha' -- can you dig it?

Okay, that was an easy one. I couldn't resist!

The New Phone Books are Here!

2011-02-21T12:55:00.011-06:00

Does anyone remember the Steve Martin movie, "The Jerk"? One scene came back to me last week...when he gets the new phone book and is so delighted to see his name in print he runs around shouting "the new phone books are here, the new phone books are here".

Well my "new phone book" has arrived - the skylights and I am super excited!!

Look at the image to the right to see what the fifth floor looked like in October 2010....

And to the left, the new openings for skylights will open the space and bring in much needed daylight. With the walls down and the skylights moved to the north, Plenary Hall (the old fourth floor) is transforming before my eyes.

Can you imagine what this room will look like when complete? No?

Take a look at a photo-realistic rendering of Plenary Hall...The new skylights are here! The new skylights are here!

One Man's Trash, Another Man's Treasure

2011-02-17T14:38:00.007-06:00

Just about a year to the day I wrote a post titled "One Man's Trash" - it was March 8, 2010. The story was about the amount of material recycled and harvested out of the existing Human Ecology building when all units and functions had finished relocating. The results of an organized effort by Human Ecology staff, faculty and students to purge responsibly kept tons of trash out of landfills and gave new life to items, thanks to the good folks from Habitat for Humanity.

A year later we have a different set of information to share with you about the construction phase of our project. The project recycling goal is 95% and as of the end of January our "project to date" rate is 93.4%. These numbers play a crucial role in LEED certification as well as just being the right thing to do.

According to data from the State of Wisconsin, the amount of material (including asphalt, cardboard, concrete, metal and wood) that's been diverted is more than 3,800 tons.

I'd say that's a treasure fit for a king.

Color

2011-02-17T09:30:00.010-06:00

The February 17 daily strip of the popular cartoon "Dilbert" featured one of the characters, Tina, presenting new space plans to the staff. In the first panel she tells them "Your new cubicles will be a color called 'Death Eater Gray", and in the second panel she explains "The fabric is a soul sponge that will absorb your happiness if you stand near it".

Over the past three - now going on four - years I've learned a whole new vocabulary. I always thought I was sitting on a desk chair but now understand it's a "task chair". There are "reveals", "unforseen conditions", "membranes" and my personal favorite, "gestures".

But nothing prepared me for the complexity and importance of selecting the right colors. I understand why the Preschool flooring is not "Lace Vine" or "Golden Glow". It makes sense that the carpet color/pattern being considered for Plenary Hall is not "Wood Pulp" or "Organic Matter" but may be "Electroplated". Colors that are cool have a different impact than warm, and how it relates to the furniture, flooring and even how much natural light comes into the room is critical information to consider.

Three years ago I would have recommended colors that make me look tall and thin, but this project is about creating the best environment for the whole Human Ecology community. Which calls for an entirely different mindset - so I just need to get over myself and stick to dressing in dark colors with vertical lines...that's slimming, right?

I promise there is no "Death Eater Gray" anywhere in the building.

Studio for Graduate Students

2011-02-14T10:52:00.016-06:00

The program for the new building was deliberate in its intent to create spaces to support graduate students; and one of those areas is a dedicated studio. This space is intended to inspire collaboration and support connections among graduate students in Design Studies.

The new studio space is on second floor of the existing building in the east wing. Space formerly occupied by faculty and staff are now combined into a single, open studio with windows on three sides, filling the studio with natural light. The finish will be "raw", with an exposed ceiling and stained/sealed concrete floor.

One of the many inspirations for design elements in the new building came from the first Human Ecology trip to China, led by Design Studies Professor Wei Dong. There visitors saw innovative ideas for flexible exhibition space and as you see in the photo below, studio for graduate students.

For the past several years Professor Dong has taught a study-abroad course, "Global Experience in Design: Chinese Culture, Arts and Design" at Peking University, and has been instrumental in creating the Center for Sustainable Development in Arts and Design with UW-Madison and Tsing Hua University.

Like Terra Cotta Warriors

2011-02-13T10:37:00.015-06:00

The other day I had the chance to walk around the new addition. Lori Ushman, who works in Design Studies and is the most talented photographer, graciously trekked along with me. We spent close to 2 hours in the existing building, around the site, in the parking garage and eventually we made our way to the addition.

Climbing up a ladder to the first floor - home to the new Design Gallery - we began our journey. I am understanding space in a whole new way - for 3 years we've been dreaming, drawing and planning on paper but nothing prepares you for what it means to stand right there.

With encouragement (well, it felt more like a challenge) Lori and I climbed three floors of scaffolding stairs on the outside of the structure...and were greeted with the sight of hundreds of wood "soldiers", standing row upon row whose only job is to support the structure while the concrete cures:

My first thought was these hundreds of supports, which are invisible by the webcam, reminded me of the terra cotta soldiers of the First Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Sure a bit of a reach, but the sight of hundreds of uniform supports, row upon row, is striking.

Just don't tell our architects that the First Emperior of China was so proud of his tomb that he murdered its creators.

The Big Dig

2010-05-27T12:36:00.008-05:00

I just looked at the live shot of the construction site (http://www.sohe.wisc.edu/) and the hole gets deeper by the day. It's really pretty cool to think in just a few months how much and how fast the work has been done.

The mass excavation started on May 3 and will take about 25-30 working days to complete. According to our campus project manager, Angela Pakes Ahlman, the contractor should be able fill about 12 trucks per hour, or about 120 per day. Yowza!

Because I am a visual learner (and my office sits in Mechanical Engineering, facing Camp Randall) I was curious...just how much dirt are we talking about?

Well, each truck will carry ~15 cubic yards (cy) of dirt.

So 15x120 = 1,800 cy/day x ~25 days = 45,000 cy dirt or ~1,215,000 cubic feet of solid dirt.

That’s not Camp Randall, it’s about 22.5% of the Kohl Center or roughly 303,750,000 hockey pucks!

Go Badgers!

I remember!

2010-05-25T09:12:00.012-05:00

True confession time. Each morning on my drive in to work I think about the building blog and what's new, what might be interesting to a larger audience. Ideas range from how big the hole is we are digging for the addition to stories from the groundbreaking on April 30 to the next neighborhood meeting. There is a lot of activity - and yet by the time I pull in to the parking ramp the ideas evaporate.

But not today. Today I held on long enough to reach my desk and put virtual pen to paper.

First up: Results of the Chair Fair
I will be the first to say it, the chair fair was a success. The event was held from April 19-23 at Sterling and third floor of Middleton. The furniture at Sterling included chairs like the one to the left (Steelcase: Sidewalk) that are under consideration for Centers reception area, to chairs for the green roof (the black one to the right is Janus et Cie 'Forest') to classroom chairs. It makes such a huge difference to actually sit in a chair - and run my hands over the buttery smooth leather - as opposed to seeing it in a showroom or online. When we went to the Merchandise Mart last summer we were on such a rapid, tight schedule that it was sometimes difficult to fully appreciate a piece of furniture. But this way lots of people had the chance to weigh in on likes and dislikes. I adore the Janus chair and was really surprised at how accommodating and comfortable it was for my, shall we say, generous figure.

But let's step away from these gorgeous confections and talk about the real workhorses - desk chairs and classroom chairs. These need to take a beating, fit different body types and perform for long hours. The desk chairs under consideration spent time at Sterling and then over to third floor Middleton. Lots of people filled out evaluations for these chairs because we all know the value of a good desk chair.

Speaking of evaluations, the design team drew (4) winners of a $10 WISCARD from all the completed evals:

Mickey Moe (student)
Diana Zlatanovski (staff)
Erin Hamilton (student)
Maya Lea (staff)

Congratulations and thanks for participating!

The Great Chair Fair of 2010

2010-04-12T14:40:00.008-05:00

CHAIR FAIR STARTS THURSDAY

This Thursday, April 15 the entire SoHE population will get a chance to see and test proposed seating for the new SoHE building. The Chair Fair will take place in Sterling Hall, rooms B101 and B611. There will be guided sessions at 8 and 10 am, at 12 noon, and at 2 pm. You'll get to try chairs – classroom chairs, office chairs, lounge chairs, guest chairs, all types of seating - under consideration and fill out evaluation forms. Additionally, most of the chairs will remain on site until around April 26 for further viewing and testing.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information please contact Professor Roberto Rengel, rjrengel@wisc.edu

Some days it all comes down to support, comfort, cushion and cradle. Yes, it's all about the chair. Can I sit for hours at my desk without cramping? Does it make me look thin? Is there a swivel in case I am in a boring meeting and get antsy? Will it have wheels for quick room configuration? Is this an iconic piece and if so, why is it important for SoHE?

The project team has asked these questions and about a thousand more in preparation for the upcoming Chair Fair. Questions like "will the arms slide under the table...'cause I hate it when the arms bump" or "how easy is it to clean?" and about lumbar support. The team drilled manufacturers reps about the "green" story, and discussed how a certain piece may look in the historic part of the Dean's suite in the existing building.

And let's not forget the importance of excellent design. Each piece will be evaluated for its esthetics as well as function - how does it look by itself and in concert with other elements in the space.

But, the twin workhorses for the project are classroom chairs and office chairs. SoHE employs hundreds of people - faculty, administrators, staff, research assistants, preschool teachers -and that adds up to hundreds of chairs and lots of body types. The same goes for classroom and studio chairs - students come in all shapes and sizes so chairs must be forgiving.

Take a bit of time and attend the chair fair - your feedback is super important.

One Man's Trash...

2010-03-08T10:49:00.003-06:00

As the old saying goes, "one man's trash is another man's treasure" and from the results of our relocation, I'd say it we've distributed the motherlode of treasure.

I've learned that preparing the building for construction has more layers than simply moving our contents. Once the departments, people and functions vacate the buildings then SWAP (Surplus With A Purpose) http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/ comes through and identifies what they can move and possibly sell through their enterprise. The folks from campus Physical Plant swarm the building and harvest things that can be re-used in other campus locations, ranging from filters to locksets, water fountains to "slop" sinks. I'd wager the old SoHE building was the recipient of many a second-hand fixture.

But here's where it gets interesting - the next group that came through was Habitat for Humanity Restore. This group of mighty volunteers spent days and days combing through the building, harvesting items that would have been simply part of the interiors demo as it was not going to be used in the building project. Teams of people took apart and moved built-in casework, blackboards, the blue cabinets from the Textile Collection workroom, misc office chairs, file cabinets - right down to the last can of Who-Hash. All together, the Restore salvaged almost 8 tons of material.

Finally, a volunteer group of students worked with James Harrod from FP&M to do a final sweep of paper for recycling. This group picked up and salvaged an additional 2 tons of scrap paper

I am really proud of what we accomplished and the impact these groups had on reducing our "footprint." It's stunning what could have made its way into a landfill.

Jan. 4 Move Update

2009-12-07T09:38:00.001-06:00

Building Project News
December 3, 2009

General Move:
Week of January 4, 2010

Address for Sterling Hall:
475 North Charter St
Madison, WI 53706-1507

Address for Administration Relocation Space (in the College of Engineering Building):
1513 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53706-1572

Address for Print & Dye Studio/Instructional Space:
445 Henry Mall, suite 302/306
Madison, WI 53706

Configuring your space
This may be old news (because our students have been working like demons to develop the furniture plans for every space at Sterling Hall) but we are coming into the home stretch for confirming space plans. Department chairs have received layouts for faculty offices and will be distributing those as quickly as possible. The plans will show furniture in each office and workstation. You will need to decide which other pieces of your current furniture (file cabinets, bookcases, etc.) you would like moved – provided it fits. Please remember that all pieces need to be labeled. Some offices will accommodate up to 4 verticals file cabinets and may have room for one, in some cases two bookcases.

For those moving to Mechanical Engineering, space plans and assignments are under development by the Dean – we are doing our best to have those plans distributed as quickly as possible.

Phone/Fax Access
On January 4, 2010 AT&T and DoIT will shut off the phones at 1300 Linden Drive - however voice mail will be active and available. Starting January 5-6, we anticipate phones will be online in the new locations, baring any unforeseen emergencies.

This might be an excellent time to consider adding EVM to your computer! Please contact John Hilgers, director of academic technology jhilgers@wisc.edu or 265-0534 to learn more about this feature.

Phase Two – Move Dates Accelerated for Instructional Spaces
Due to extraordinary efforts from campus and our colleagues at the College of Letters and Science, SoHE will be able to move instructional spaces into Sterling Hall sooner than projected:

Accelerated Move for Instructional Spaces
• DS instructional spaces – MOVING DECEMBER 22/23, and December 28/29
o Note: Print & Dye Lab will be located at 445 N Henry Mall
o Note: Textile Color Lab will move January 4 (Physics currently has this space until the end of December)
• Computer Lab – MOVING DECEMBER 22/23 or December 28/29
• Room 108 – MOVING DECEMBER 22/23 or December 28/29

At this stage we anticipate the January 4 relocation to Sterling will take up to (3) business days, and ask that staff not be in the SoHE building during the actual move. Please contact your supervisor to address any schedule questions. The elevator and stairwells will be used exclusively for relocation, making them unusable for anyone else. Please do not plan to have your car here moving personal items, as the driveway will be blocked with trucks starting at 6:00 a.m. each day.

Phase Two Reminders:
• Please empty your desk (but not until you actually move!)
• If you need extra hands to help you pack, please contact Jonie Bonfield at 262-0017 or via email jbonfield@wisc.edu – Jonie will dispatch students as they are available.
• If a lease, contract or warranty covers any equipment (i.e. department copier) you may have, contact that company as they may be responsible for moving the equipment

File Cabinets
VERTICAL FILE CABINETS can be moved full, they do not have to be emptied. Please be sure the bottom drawers are full – empty drawers may cause a mishap. If the cabinet has a lock, please wrap tape around the lock to be sure it does not accidentally get pushed in/ locked. Tape the key to the top of the file cabinet – you would be surprised at the number of people who end up locking the key inside the file cabinet.

LATERAL FILES must be emptied – they will not be moved unless empty.

General Packing Guidelines
• EVERYTHING GOING TO STERLING USE PURPLE LABELS
• EVERYTHING GOING TO MECHANICAL ENGINEERING USE ORANGE LABELS
• ANYTHING GOING TO MIDDLETON WILL USE GREEN LABELS
• ANYTHING GOING TO HLATC LEASE SPACE WILL USE GRAY LABELS
• ANYTHING GOING TO 445 HENRY MALL WILL USE BLUE LABELS
• ANYTHING GOING TO OFFSITE STORAGE LABEL COLOR RED LABELS

The move experts on the SoHE team have analyzed the spaces at Sterling and Mechanical Engineering, and based on their best advice please use the following as your guideline for managing materials:

• Crates and labels will be delivered to your office or area on December 7. You need to use these to pack anything going to your building. Everything must have a label! Remember: No label = No move = No exceptions
• Once you have packed a crate it must close – seriously, it must close
• Each packing crate holds about one file drawer of material, this is especially important for those moving into an open workplan
• If you would like your desk chair to move with you, label it
• All desks, credenzas, bookcases, storage cabinets must be emptied regardless of whether or not it is moving with you
• If a lease, contract or warranty covers any equipment (i.e. department copier) you may have, contact that company as they may be responsible for moving the equipment
• You MUST BE DONE PACKING OFFICES by the end of the day Tuesday, December 29 – no exceptions
• For your planning purposes, office crates must be emptied by Friday, January 15 and instructional space crates, computer carts, bookcarts, etc. unpacked by January 21, 2010 – the movers will be on site both days to collect this equipment

Security and Access
Please note that Sterling and Mechanical Engineering both use a card access system to enter the buildings after hours. This means your WISCARD must be up to date – if you got your card BEFORE July 1, 2008 we will not be able to enter you in the system.

Addition information regarding key distribution will be coming in the next week – in the mean time, now is a good time to locate all the SoHE keys you have and be ready to turn them in to Jonie.

What is considered a “personal item” that won’t be moved?
• Small refrigerators, microwaves, coffee pots
• Plants
• Furniture or items you bought with your own money

New Building: Fun Facts

• Carpet design, drapery design and tile patterns are being considered as possible areas for student competition. Look for more information in the spring!

• The new building landscape plan includes more than 150 different plant species

For more information log onto the Human Ecology website and click the “Movin’ On Up” logo.

Final Review Plans

2009-11-02T16:57:00.005-06:00

On October 5 the architects delivered the Final Review set of plans to SoHE. The set includes two volumes of actual drawings, seen to the right, rolled up like super heavy carpets. The plans detail every aspect of the project, from electric to HVAC to lighting plans to you name it, the detail has to be drawn. Each of the two volumes is accompanied by a giant book of specifications, and a product binder. The spec books seen below, are easily 3 inches thick and contain the written information backing up every detail drawing. The product binder, another behemoth, is home to the images for everything in the building - things you'd never think of like door closers, hardware, locks, electric switches, plumbing parts - all the really sexy things in a new building.

So, how is it I am smiling? Oh, don't worry, it's just pure shock. That after more than two years I can see the finish line for the planning stage. From August 2007 until October 2009 everything has been talking, wrestling, dreaming, arguing, imagining and drawing, erasing and starting again. Now it feels more real than ever before to be actually holding the plans in my hands.

Let's just stop on that image - me, holding the plans in my hands.

Top 9 Reasons for Creating a New Building

2009-10-27T11:58:00.001-05:00

9. We won't have to fix the leaking faucet in the HDFS bathroom.

8. Building an entirely new building will be cheaper than fixing the noisy ventilation in our meeting rooms.

7. It's the only way to get more parking spaces.

6. I'm hoping for a faculty meeting room in which the eyes in that painting don't follow me around the room.

5. Jonie Bonfield and Michael Jacobs will be the envy of the university in our new Frank Hooper Memorial Smoking Lounge.

4. There's no place in the current building for Roberto's band to play.

3. It's the only way to get some faculty to clean their offices.

2. Some faculty have been around the lead paint in the old building so long that their drop in IQ has become embarrassing.

1. 3 words to describe ribbon cutting day in 2011: Party! Party! Party!

--Contributed by Dave Riley

Safety and Security

2009-09-08T13:37:00.005-05:00

Last week the design team sat down with campus police, project team members and security experts to talk about access for the building. We have now officially entered into the detail phase of the project and oh my goodness, was this ever detail. No color drawings to review, no furniture to dream about, no landscape plans to ponder - this 4-hour meeting was a door by door discussion with campus police, Physical Plant, security consultants and project consultants.

We discussed card access versus keys, the merits of close circuit monitors against security cameras, what kind of security system should the textile collection storage have, how the preschool parents enter the building, if a stairway door should be locked from the inside or outside, and so much more.

Now that the semester has started I hear the parade of students getting their keys from Jonie. Every fall she cheerfully assigns more than 100 keys to incoming freshman, grad students and new lecturers. Hang in there Jonie, in a few short years we will be on a card access system!

Phase One Complete!

2009-08-18T09:50:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Linda Zwicker, Jonie Bonfield and everyone else who contributed to the successful completion of Phase One of the School’s relocation! The Departments of Consumer Science and Human Development and Family Studies, as well as UW-Extension offices and Covering Kids and Families can now be found at the Middleton Library, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

2009-08-07T11:43:00.008-05:00

Back from the Windy City, a trip to the Merchandise Mart to look at furniture ideas for the building project. My feet still hurt and I won’t look at a chair the same way again.

For anyone who has never been to the Mart, close your eyes and imagine…the world’s largest commercial building, 25 stories high, about 4.2 million gross square feet over 2 city blocks. Go ahead, admit it, you are exhausted even thinking about it.

The design team (Dorschner/Sasaki) scheduled 17 showroom visits starting at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday and the last one was 12:15 p.m. on Friday. Headed down from Madison were Dean Douthitt, Professor Roberto Rengel, Angela Pakes Ahlman from UW-Madison’s FP&M office and me.

After grabbing coffee on the first floor we headed up to the first appointment – I was struck by the fact the building was vacant. Because the showrooms are all open by appointment there is no hallway traffic. Imagine 4.2 million gross square feet mostly empty – like a Hollywood movie where aliens have taken all the people away and all we are left with are the most extraordinarily appointed rooms with the most exquisite furniture.

The spaces are designed with the most wonderful lighting and elements to showcase everything “just so.”

But picture this – one place had every single chair and sofa upholstered in creamy white leather, some trimmed in dark wood – no other color, just supple leather. Nothing is more seductive than sinking into a butter soft chair that cradles and supports in just the right places, yummy. Another place had every piece of furniture done in the same rich steel gray felted wool. One showroom had every piece of office system furniture in white – these folks are good.

The other thing that blew me away was the high level of hospitality exhibited by the vendors we visited. At every appointment we were immediately and warmly greeted, offered a range of beverages and snacks including trail mix, chocolates, gummy bears, mints, nuts and the most extraordinary caramel corn. Each vendor had some kind of fabulous bag for us filled with literature, more water and snacks.

But enough about the meetings, let’s talk about the furniture!

The design team had identified 61 different seating options for us to try – we tried chairs for the reading room, stools for the café, office guest chairs, reception chairs for the Centers, chairs for faculty/staff offices, chairs for conference rooms, chairs for student areas, chairs for niche study spaces, options for the outside green roof, seating for the Gallery, classroom seating and even wonderful “snuggle” chairs for the preschool. We discussed things like the “green” story for the manufacturer and asked lots of questions: Do the café stools come with a foot rest? How high will the classroom chairs stack? Does that chair come with wheels and how much noise would it make sliding on a hard surface? Is the chair adjustable, can the piece be outside in all weather, what’s the warranty, color choices, wood options, does it swivel - you name it, we tested it.

Flexibility is a key value for the project, and boy did we see innovative solutions. Demountable wall systems with solid acoustic privacy, glass or opaque walls that can be reconfigured in a matter of a few hours; workstations where the tabletops raise or lower with pneumatics, slick technology integration and LED lighting solutions.

No more white boards! Everywhere we looked glass was the order of the day. Tabletops and wall panels with back painted glass that function with markers or paint and can be cleaned with Windex – dream of a world with no more ghosts on writing surfaces.

Here we are, just days away from Phase One of relocation and scrambling to find metal bookcases for offices and a decent conference table for the collaboration space. Imagine the day when we get to move in and everything is new, it’s clean — and oh my, it matches!

Dean Douthitt Joins the Big Purge

2009-08-04T12:20:00.002-05:00

HLATC Progress

2009-07-31T11:11:00.006-05:00

The Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection is now 64% packed! Slowly but surely we are making progress. You might notice some weeks we have huge jumps in numbers while other weeks show more modest increases. Rest assured we're working just as hard the entire time! Our progress rate depends heavily on the types of objects we're working with.

Here are a couple of the latest pieces to come out of storage. See more here.

Need More Crates?

2009-07-30T15:10:00.002-05:00

If you need more crates during the period Aug. 3 - 10, please contact Linda Zwicker, lazwicker@wisc.edu, in the absence of Jonie Bonfield, building manager.

Books Move to New Home

2009-07-23T11:30:00.002-05:00

Human Development and Family Studies faculty have purged many books from their offices, in preparation for the Department's August move. They placed the books in the Department's foyer, where other faculty and students could take them. But lately the number of books kept growing -- and growing!

At the suggestion of Professor Karen Bogenschneider, Department Admin Jane Weier contacted the Social Work Library, which was happy to take the books. Jane Weier packed them up and with Professor Bogenschneider wheeled them across Linden Drive to the library. It will take any books it can use to fill its collections and ship the remainder to Memorial Library.

Memorial Library will take what it or other campus libraries can use and donate the rest to the Friends of the UW-Madison Library for its next public sale in October. Proceeds from the sale support a lecture series, special purchases for the library collections, and visiting scholar program.

Packing -- Not Purging!

2009-07-23T11:07:00.002-05:00

Since the beginning of the relocation process, Human Ecology has been purging and streamlining offices and spaces. But the Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection is working not to get rid of materials, but to preserve them.

As of July 8, the HLATC is 62 percent packed, an extraordinary accomplishment! There are more than 13,000 pieces in the Collection, meaning that more than 8,000 have now been packed. In addition to flat pieces, the Collection includes almost 3,000 pieces on long rolls, which will make for a labor-intensive fall, since these will not fit on the elevator and will need to remain level while being carried down the stairs.

First Wave Move Dates

2009-06-29T13:37:00.001-05:00

The first phase of relocations will be Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 11 and 12 (13th as a back-up day) to the Middleton Library (directly across the street from Human Ecology) and the basement of the Medical Sciences Building.

The next phases...
•Phase One and a Half: Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection to lease space in the fall of 2009
•Phase Two: Moves to Sterling and UHS over semester break, from December 2009 to January 2010
•Phase Three: Preschool Lab to University Housing, March 2010

Where to Put What When Purging

2009-06-29T13:36:00.008-05:00

You can find boxes for magazines and other recyclables that do not require shredding at the back of the mailroom (rm. 130); if no boxes are available, please bring your own. Filled boxes will be picked up periodically from the back of the mailroom. Materials must be boxed, no tied bundles or loose papers. Near the boxes are shredding bins, for file folders, journals and paper of all weights and colors. Paperclips, staples and binder clips need not be removed before shredding. The bins are on wheels and can be rolled to your location, but please return them to the mailroom by 4:30 p.m. each day.

Please do not put the following items into the shredding bins: hard cover books, three-ring binders, wood, plastic, or large metal items. Continue to place newspapers in the blue bin by the elevator. Remove the contents from three-ring binders, which can go to SWAP. If you have papers with longer term value, see the UW Archives and Records Management website for information. If you have questions or furniture or other large items to purge, please contact Jonie Bonfield, facilities manager, 262-0017, jbonfield@wisc.edu.

Photo: John Hilgers properly disposes of confidential documents. Photo taken by Paige Wilder.

Moving in Phase One? Reminders…

2009-06-29T13:36:00.002-05:00

•Put new address on websites: Start communicating now that your office or project is moving on August 11 – 12.
•SWAP– please contact Jonie Bonfield, (262-0017) or email jbonfield@wisc.edu, with any questions.
•Move labels will arrive later in July.
•Keys for Middleton spaces will be distributed the week of July 27; however, please note the space will not be turned over to Human Ecology until the move occurs.

Purging Tips

2009-06-29T13:35:00.008-05:00

•Stay Focused – this is time for weeding, not reading: Don’t unwrap magazines, journals or other printed material – if you haven’t read it by now, throw it away!
•Did you remember you had it before now? If not, it’s time to toss or take home.
•Once you toss it, don’t retrieve it from the trash unless it’s cash!
•Calendars/date books: Create your own retention policy (i.e. current year plus last two) unless you have it electronically, in which case it’s a candidate for recycling.

Ask yourself three questions when sorting and purging:
1. Did you remember you had it before now?
2. If you toss it, could you find it again from another source?
3. If you decide to keep it, would you know where to find it?

Photo: Sundry items found in SoHE's attic. Photo taken by Paige Wilder.

Thank You for Recycling!

2009-06-29T13:35:00.001-05:00

In keeping with our Building Project Principles relating to a healthy and energy responsible environment, Human Ecology has shredded almost four tons of confidential paper. Just last week, we recycled about 3,000 pounds of non-confidential paper.
Working together we have saved 74 trees!

New Building: Fun Facts!

2009-06-29T13:34:00.007-05:00

•Total gross square feet: 202,000 +/-
•Number of underground parking stalls: 42
•Number of men’s rooms: 9
•Number of stairs: 5
•Number of elevators: 3
•Number of showers: 2

Photo: Dean Robin A. Douthitt unveils the new building model at January 2009 All-School Retreat.

Environmental Impact Statement

2009-06-29T13:34:00.002-05:00

The 45-day public comment period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) closed on June 26. Following a review of the comments submitted, the consultants will release a draft of the Final EIS around the third week in July. The FEIS will be open for comment for 30 days, after which point the consultants enter a Record of Decision to UW System Administration.

I Can’t Believe I Kept It Contest: September 30 Deadline

2009-06-29T13:14:00.010-05:00

Human Ecology is sponsoring an "I Can’t Believe I Kept It Contest" (our very own Antiques Road Show) as part of our preparation for our upcoming moves to temporary spaces around campus. As you clean and organize the materials in your office, you may come across unique items — a 20-year-old basketball ticket stub, a memento from the person who had your desk in 1965, a rubber stamp that once belonged to Abby Marlatt, who knows? Small items will be displayed in the hallway case near rm. 178. Large items may be photographed. (Modest prizes to be determined.) If you have questions or items to enter, contact Doris Green, dmgreen2@wisc.edu.

Photo: American Family Insurance Mike Leckrone statue. Photo taken by Paige Wilder.

Pre June 2009 Updates

2009-06-29T12:29:00.011-05:00

Second Public Hearing on Environmental Impact Statement

2009 — A public meeting to present the release of the second Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Human Ecology addition and renovation project will be held by representatives of UW-Madison; Human Ecology; UW-System Administration, the Division of State Facilities; Ayres Associates; and the A/E design team at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27, in rm. 132 of the WARF Building at 610 N. Walnut St. Free parking is available after 5:00 p.m. in the adjacent parking lot. A brief description of the project and potential impacts will be presented. Attendees will be afforded a reasonable opportunity to identify both orally and in writing any issues or concerns they believe should be addressed in the Final EIS for this proposed project.

The proposed project will construct an addition to and renovate the original Human Ecology Building including: (1) removal of two facilities--the existing Preschool Laboratory and Human Development and Family Studies Building; (2) new underground parking beneath the building addition that will provide 41 stalls; (3) construction of an approximately 54,990 ASF/81,775 GSF addition to the SoHE building and associated utility work; and (4) subsequent renovation of the existing 74,000 GSF SoHE building.

The Division of State Facilities retained Ayres Associates to prepare an EIS for the proposed project in accordance with sec. 1.11 Wis. Stats., relating to the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act (WEPA). The intent of the EIS process is to identify the potential positive and negative impacts of the project to the physical, biological, social, and economic environments.

The second Draft EIS is available for a 45-day public review and comment period beginning May 12 and ending Jun. 26. Comments and inquiries raised during this comment period will be used to develop the Final EIS, which will be circulated to the public and commenting agencies for a subsequent 30-day review period and public hearing. Following the public hearing, the University of Wisconsin System develops a conclusion on the findings of the EIS. This Record of Decision is circulated to key individuals and agencies involved in the EIS process.

Copies of the second draft EIS are available at the UW-Madison Helen C. White Library and City of Madison Public Library (Central Location) and online at www.ayresprojectinfo.com/UW-sohe. Comments can be submitted until Jun. 26.

Please send comments to: Ms. Kathleen Melland, Environmental Scientist, Ayres Associates, 1802 Pankratz St., Madison, WI 53704-4069. Comment forms can also be obtained via the project website.

Shredding and Recycling Contest: Apr. 30, May 6

2009 — Would you like an extra inducement to clean your office? Purging unneeded paper is an important step in preparing for our relocation. To support our efforts, a Shredding and Recycling Contest will run through Apr. 30, 2009. If you would like to participate, please weigh and track the number of pounds of paper you have placed into the shredding and recycling bins through Apr. 30. Then, e-mail Liv Lindenberg, llindenberg@wisc.edu, or Jonie Bonfield, jbonfield@wisc.edu, a note by Friday, May 1, reporting the number of pounds of papers you have placed into these bins.

The individual with the highest tally will be named at a Shredding Contest Reception beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 6 in rm. 178. Ice cream will be served! The winner will receive an iPod Shuffle. All participants will get a cleaner, more efficient work space.

Relocation Space: Tours and Timing

2009 — Many Human Ecology faculty and staff have been asking about opportunities to check out their assigned temporary spaces during our upcoming construction project.

Sterling Hall remains under "hard-hat" construction. We are working with Space Management to identify dates when small groups can schedule a walk-though of their assigned space in Sterling.

The Division of Continuing Studies is scheduled to move out of the third floor of the Middleton Library on Apr. 13. After that date we will be able to tour the space at any time.

For those assigned to University Health Services, space visits will be scheduled over the next three weeks.

Please contact Linda Zwicker at lazwicker@wisc.edu if you have questions or need more information.

What Will Fit into 110 Square Feet?

2009 — Many offices in our relocation space will average between 110 square feet and 145 square feet. To help us gauge the size of a typical office, John Hilgers and his student workers have taped a 110-square-foot outline on the floor in the northwest corner of rm. 178. It indicates space for a door to swing open and contains a box the size of a mini fridge, a cardboard sheet cut to the size of an open file drawer, and other helpful tools.

I Can’t Believe I Kept It Contest: Sept. 30

2009 — Human Ecology is sponsoring an I Can’t Believe I Kept It Contest (our very own Antiques Road Show) as part of our preparation for our upcoming moves to temporary spaces around campus. As you clean and organize the materials in your office, you may come across unique items — a 20-year-old basketball ticket stub, a memento from the person who had your desk in 1965, a rubber stamp that once belonged to Abby Marlatt, who knows? The winner of a similar contest sponsored during the relocation of the Registrar’s Office entered a 17-year-old donut, petrified and preserved under glass.

Small items will be displayed in the hallway case near rm. 178. Large items may be photographed. If you have questions or items to enter, please contact Doris Green, dmgreen2@wisc.edu.

Movin' On Up!

2008 — Human Ecology folks attending the Holiday Potluck on Dec. 16 voted for one of three themes created by the Relocation Team for use in communications related to our transition to temporary, and then to permanent space. The theme selected, Movin’ On Up (remember The Jefferson’s TV show?), won over two other suggestions, "Our SoHE Journey — the New SoHE," and "New Digs."

Watch for a logo to accompany our theme, thanks to the generosity of Diana Zlatanovski and her partner.

Move Schedule

2008 — The Human Ecology Relocation Team reports that the School has received approval from UW-Madison to proceed on an accelerated project schedule, subject to campus’ ability to provide "swing space." The Preschool will relocate to space at University Houses and the Department of Human Development and Family Studies will relocate to the Middleton Building, 1305 Linden Drive, in the summer of 2009. The majority of Human Ecology units will move over the semester break from December 2009 through January 2010. The compressed relocation schedule will enable the project to save time and money. Human Ecology E-News, Nov. 10 (www.sohe.wisc.edu/new/facstaff/enews.html)

Kohl’s Department Stores Supports Retail Excellence with $3 Million Gift

2008 — Kohl's Department Stores has provided a $3 million gift to UW-Madison to establish the Kohl's Department Stores Center for Retailing Excellence. In addition to an endowment to provide administrative and programming support, the gift will fund a state-of-the-art facility within an expanded and renovated School of Human Ecology building. University Communications

UW-Madison to Renovate Five Old Buildings

2008 — Human Ecology’s building project is among five historic buildings touted for their excellence and scheduled for renovation, in contrast to several 1960’s buildings slated for demolition. Wisconsin State Journal

Architects Selected

Winter 2007 – 2008 — Human Ecology has selected the architectural team of Dorschner and Associates of Madison and Sasaki Associates of Boston to design the addition and renovation of its historic building (p. 2 in the School’s Impact newsletter).

State Budget Enumerates Human Ecology Building Project

2007 — Speaking about the budget process, State Senator Fred Risser noted, "This budget invests in the University of Wisconsin and … a number of important building projects were enumerated for the UW campus, including the School of Human Ecology….” The Capital Times

Laura Linden and the 100 Women Campaign

2007 — Nancy Nicholas has honored her aunt, Laura Linden, with a gift to the School of Human Ecology’s 100 Women campaign. University of Wisconsin Foundation

Addition and Renovation Update

2007 — The Wisconsin Building Commission approved the total $48 million Human Ecology building proposal, which was then included within the state capital budget, approved by the legislature and Governor Jim Doyle (p. 2 in the School’s Impact newsletter). Of the total amount, $22.5 million would come from private gifts, $2.5 million from program revenue, and the remainder from state-supported borrowing.

Couple Provides Gift for Preschool Laboratory

2007 — Elliot and Frances Lehman have provided a $1 million lead gift for a teaching and research preschool laboratory, a key component of a new addition to the School of Human Ecology's historic building. University Communications

Cameron Designates Award to Human Ecology

2005 — Lindsey Stoddard Cameron, UW-Madison coordinator of new faculty services, received one of two inaugural Champion Awards given by the Women’s Philanthropy Council. Stoddard Cameron designated her $5,000 grant to the Human Ecology building project, where it will help create infant care space and programming in the new preschool facility. University Communications

Nicholases Provide Lead Gift for Human Ecology Building Project

2004 — Nancy Johnson Nicholas and her husband, Albert "Ab" Nicholas, have provided an $8 million lead gift for a new addition and remodeling of the school's historic building. University Communications