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About 15 community members braved the bitter cold to get a look at plans for the estimated $44 million building and discuss what effects it might have on the UW-L campus and surrounding community.
Valentine Schute, project architect from River Architects, told the group at UW-L’s Cartwright Center the new building will have a “timeless look,” using brick, stone and arches similar to many of the older buildings on campus.
Yet the plans also call for sustainability features such as multiple rain gardens for catching stormwater runoff and allowing as much natural light into the building as possible, with a C-shaped design that has more exterior walls and, therefore, more windows.
Using such sustainability features will help the project reach its a goal of using 30 percent less energy than required in current state building codes for energy efficiency, said Schute.
The academic building will include general assignment classrooms plus space for several programs and student support services. Construction is scheduled to begin in May 2009 and be completed by July 2011.
The state will pay $38 million of the $44 million cost for the building, with UW-L needing to raise the remaining $6 million.
Parts of the building components will be a flexible design — such as conduits big enough for adding additional cables — to accommodate future changes, Schute said.
Some members of the audience were concerned the project might make finding parking or student housing on campus more difficult, as two residence halls are to be demolished to make room for the academic building.
But Matt Lewis, director of campus planning and facilities management, said the building should not put more stress on campus parking. Short-term leases also might be available for student housing near campus while a new residence hall is built, Lewis said.
Other UW-L students and community members discussed other possible sustainable features in the building.
The final environmental impact statement can be viewed in April at La Crosse Public Library, UW-L’s Murphy Library or online at www.ayresprojectinfo.com/UWL-Academic-EIS.
KJ Lang can be reached at (608) 791-8226 or klang@lacrossetribune.com.
