Happy Valentines Day: Improving the Quality of Human Life

Improving the Quality of Human Life. Honestly I've written and erased so many things in this particular entry because I can't fully express the impact the 100 Women initiative has had on the building project, and on me.

A few years ago I had the pleasure of videotaping interviews with some of our honorees - each one came to participate in the project from very different paths. Jean Alford Meyers (MS’47 Home Economics) husband and the couple’s five children joined together to honor her impact on her community. In just one example of how she lives the mission, Jean become a volunteer EMT for her local community later in life because she saw an unmet need. Never one to stand on the sidelines Jean jumped right in, improving the quality of human life.

Mary Kunz Berge (B.S. Home Economics ‘61), was the first 100 Women honoree. I first met Mary when she and husband Paul agreed to chair the School's Centennial Celebration - a huge undertaking considering she had just co-chaired the Sesquicentennial Celebration for UW-Madison. Mary had the brilliant vision to create a campaign that would "bring Human Ecology alumni home again", thus providing the building blocks for a capital campaign.

Being a mentor is what drives Sharon Scanlan (BS ‘70, Textiles and Clothing), retired senior vice president of Sears. Sharon was appointed leader of the world’s largest national appliance/electronics repair and installation division of Sears. Her appointment as the first women in the history of the company to hold such a position, motivated her to establish and lead the Sear’s Women’s Network.

The 100 Women initiative will have a special home in the new building. Prominently installed on the concourse of the third floor of the addition, the exhibit was designed by the very talented team at ZD Studio which includes Human Ecology alums Caroline Altfeather and Melanie Kranz, will delight and inspire each of us to "Improve the Quality of Human Life".

The Crates of Wrath

I am really close to never having to use this photo or that line again...really close.

In preparation for the relocation back to 1300 Linden Drive, campus has scheduled a walk-through of our spaces for moving companies interested in bidding on our project. Erin Hamilton (Human Ecology) has been working closely with Rob Shively, campus move director, to prepare the schedule and materials needed to manage our move – you may recall that it was Rob and Erin who prepared for our moves into seven locations around campus more than two and a half years ago.

Wow, did I just write that?

The walk through is scheduled for:

Tuesday, February 14

The group will begin at Chris Siecks project at 8:00 am, then roll forward to see the Preschool, Mechanical Engineering, MSC, third floor Middleton, Henry Mall, ground level, first and second floor of Sterling. Rob and Erin are leading the moving reps through these areas and buildings – and will keep the interruptions to a minimum. There is no action you need to take except to let your staff know this is happening.

Please let me know if you have questions.

Thanks-
zwick

A welcome sight

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?