OT: Marquette Projects

[MURFC]

A few posts back the board was discussing the new pedmall being created between Cobeen and Tower.  That project along with several others of recent memory (see the Al, Dental Building, Parking Structure, Campus Beautification, etc.) got me thinking.  What will be Marquette's next big project(s) - where are their priorities/opportunities?  Obviously, the Law School is going to be the number one priority, but after that, what?

1.  Law School
2.  Soccer Stadium
3.  McCormick Replacement?
4.  Life Sciences building?
5.  New College of Business (MU still hasn't named the college of business after anyone yet - most schools have done so after a large donation)?

What do you guys think?  Even better - what would you push for if you were on the Board of Trustees?

[jtate15]

I'm pretty certain that a McCormick renovation is on deck. The rooms will be converted to suite-style housing, instead of double room dorms.

[SGWarrior]

Fundraising is alson on-going for a new Engineering Building across from Haggerty on 16th Street.

[snakesinthesnoilet]

a new engineering building called the Discovery Learning Tower is in the works to....i'm guessing they are still in the planning stage for this one since MU hasn't mentioned too much about this.  i guess it will have a skywalk across 16th street to connect it to the old engin. building.  should be pretty cool

[ZiggysFryBoy]

ZiggysFryBoy ponied up $100 bones for his season tix.  Hopefully that's enough for Dean Schrock and Joe T to name the Biz school the ZiggysFryBoy College of Business.   8)

[mosarsour]

ZiggysFryBoy ponied up $100 bones for his season tix.  Hopefully that's enough for Dean Schrock and Joe T to name the Biz school the ZiggysFryBoy College of Business.   8)

It's been a slow day, but that's the funniest thing I've heard all day!!

[muhoosier260]

here's a pearl for you: several university buildings (mashuda, carpenter, and mccormick for sure, possibly others) have no sprinkler system. mashuda's is currently being replaced, and I think carpenter's will be in a few years. MU has a time limit on when these systems have to be replaced, and i think there's some speculation whether such an expensive project would be worth it for mccormick. mb that will be a good excuse for someone important to say enough is enough and crush the rusty old beer can

[State]

ZiggysFryBoy ponied up $100 bones for his season tix.  Hopefully that's enough for Dean Schrock and Joe T to name the Biz school the ZiggysFryBoy College of Business.   8)

It's been a slow day, but that's the funniest thing I've heard all day!!

Really??...the funniest thing??....all day??....do you work in a morgue??

[MilTown]

Academic buildings are always a priority, but in this case, McCormick is way overdue. The place is a complete dump needs to be torn down, not renovated. It will be a complete waste of money to renovate that place. I will never forget the day I moved into McCormick and saw the look on my Dad's face when he saw what he was paying for. I don't blame him. I had a blast at McCormick, but the place is sub-standard. Schroeder is more modern, but still needs a major renovation. We have enjoyed a period of high applications and admissions in spite of inadequate freshman and sophomore housing, but at some point the tide will turn, and the dorms will be a large factor in the decision making process.

This is not a priority, but I would like to see a student union on the main campus (south of WI Ave) The AMU is a complete waste of space. The AMU is not functional for student use, and really serves no purpose in my mind other than to host some functions in the ball rooms. The annex is nice, but in a bad location and too small. I know there is not much space left on the main campus, but I think something could be done.

[MU gimp ONE]

i don't think mccormick will get done for the 3-5 years.  keep in mind they just sank about a million into renovating the dining room/kitchen not that long ago.  probably around 3 or 4 years ago. it probably will be torn down or renovated, but i don't see it happening till some other projects wrap up.

also, i thought the business school was named after David Straz.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Academic buildings are always a priority, but in this case, McCormick is way overdue. The place is a complete dump needs to be torn down, not renovated. It will be a complete waste of money to renovate that place. I will never forget the day I moved into McCormick and saw the look on my Dad's face when he saw what he was paying for. I don't blame him. I had a blast at McCormick, but the place is sub-standard. Schroeder is more modern, but still needs a major renovation. We have enjoyed a period of high applications and admissions in spite of inadequate freshman and sophomore housing, but at some point the tide will turn, and the dorms will be a large factor in the decision making process.

This is not a priority, but I would like to see a student union on the main campus (south of WI Ave) The AMU is a complete waste of space. The AMU is not functional for student use, and really serves no purpose in my mind other than to host some functions in the ball rooms. The annex is nice, but in a bad location and too small. I know there is not much space left on the main campus, but I think something could be done.

I agree with you about the housing... and I would guess in the next 10years the dorms will become a priority (I have no insider information... just educated guess).

The upperclassmen housing demand has been somewhat addressed with the addition onto campus town... now it's time to address the dorms.

McCormick (as much as we love it) is overdue for a re-model or re-build. Shroeder needs some work, but with some "touch-ups"  it could function for a while longer in its current state.

Cobeen isn't the most modern and neither is Tower... but they are just old, old buildings... so I'm not sure what MU can do with them (tear them down and re-build?)

The CK building would be great for MU to purchase and turn into some sort of dorm/upper-classmen suites or something... but that piece of real-estate is probably worth a TON... and I'm not an architect, so I have no idea how easy it would be to turn that building into something useful for MU.

As much as we would all hate to see it... I think the Hegarty's building (is it the Frenn?) might be on it's way out (in the next 10 years) and I could see a new dorm going up right there (maybe the basketball players dorm and then turn humphrey into a regular dorm)

The problem with remodeling any of the dorms as that you need to have space to put kids and keep the school running. MU might be more likely to build a new dorm and then tear down one of the old ones to make room for either green space or another academic building.

It's all quite interesting... it's like city planning. MU is pretty fat with cash and donations right now, so they need to be aggressive with their planning... but they also need to be mindful that they don't want to over-extend. I know that MU bought up a bunch of property in the late 80's into the mid 90's... but then really didn't have the money (or need) to do anything with what they purchased. It was a good move to purchase the property as it is helping reduce crime and anytime MU can purchase property, they probably should... but it's also risky because buying up property when you have no money or need for it. It can tie up MU's money in some unneeded areas.

There are a few buildings up on 18th-19th st. that still sit pretty much empty (or at least they were last I checked).

There has to be somebody on this board that knows more...

[MilTown]

Yeah, its a tough situation to be in because everyone has their own "vision" for campus. It's up to the board of trustees and administration to make the best choices for the University. Does anyone know if the University has a "master plan"? I would think they should, or if they don't they need to higher consultants to develop a plan. I think a fundraising campaign centered around a well designed capital improvement plan with a specific time frame and goals would be very well received by alumni and other donors. We have the AMU, so how about Alumni Hall where McCormick now stands?

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Yeah, its a tough situation to be in because everyone has their own "vision" for campus. It's up to the board of trustees and administration to make the best choices for the University. Does anyone know if the University has a "master plan"? I would think they should, or if they don't they need to higher consultants to develop a plan. I think a fundraising campaign centered around a well designed capital improvement plan with a specific time frame and goals would be very well received by alumni and other donors. We have the AMU, so how about Alumni Hall where McCormick now stands?

Interesting idea...

My guess is the MU does have a master plan... but obviously isn't sharing it with the public.

It would be interesting to show the master plan and timeline so people could know what to expect over the next 10-15years...

The only problem is that a lot of times plans change and/or are dictated by the amount of money donated. Also, often times donations are made with stipulations attached (ie I will donate 1million dollars, but it has to go to a new life sciences building, etc.)

Nevertheless, a comprehensive plan and model would be a pretty cool way to launch a new capital campaign.

[MURFC]

i don't think mccormick will get done for the 3-5 years.  keep in mind they just sank about a million into renovating the dining room/kitchen not that long ago.  probably around 3 or 4 years ago. it probably will be torn down or renovated, but i don't see it happening till some other projects wrap up.

also, i thought the business school was named after David Straz.

I believe just the building itself is named after Straz, but not the name of the college itself.  The trend in recent years has been to name the actual college after someone (e.g. Sloan School of Management (MIT), Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern), Kelly School of Business (Indiana), Tippie School of Management (Iowa), etc.).

[MUEng92]

Schroeder is more modern, but still needs a major renovation. We have enjoyed a period of high applications and admissions in spite of inadequate freshman and sophomore housing, but at some point the tide will turn, and the dorms will be a large factor in the decision making process.

This is not a priority, but I would like to see a student union on the main campus (south of WI Ave) The AMU is a complete waste of space. The AMU is not functional for student use, and really serves no purpose in my mind other than to host some functions in the ball rooms. The annex is nice, but in a bad location and too small. I know there is not much space left on the main campus, but I think something could be done.

A student union south of WI Ave.  You mean like the BMU?  I don't know how old you are, but that is where the old union was until 1990 (or 1991).  I don't think it would go over very well building a new union so soon after the current new union (it's still new to me).

I can't believe people think Schroeder needs to be remodeled.  I am not saying it doesn't, because I haven't been in it for about 16 years.  But, didn't they just remodel the first floor (lobby, cafeteria) and all of the study lounges a few years back?

[ZiggysFryBoy]

i don't think mccormick will get done for the 3-5 years.  keep in mind they just sank about a million into renovating the dining room/kitchen not that long ago.  probably around 3 or 4 years ago. it probably will be torn down or renovated, but i don't see it happening till some other projects wrap up.

also, i thought the business school was named after David Straz.

the building is named after Straz, not the biz school.

[MilTown]

To me, the AMU doesn't serve its purpose as a student union. I come from a Marquette family and know two people on the donor plaques near the main stairs. Both have no idea what the purpose of the union is and were very upset with how it turned out. The union is supposed to be the heart of campus activity. Our union is dead for the most part. There is really no reason for students to go there. It's a nice building to have on campus for special events, meetings, and shows, but it is not a functional student union. I think they can do better.

I graduated in 99, and I believe the old union building was still there. It was called Brooks Hall. It was torn down for the new library. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[bma725]

To me, the AMU doesn't serve its purpose as a student union. I come from a Marquette family and know two people on the donor plaques near the main stairs. Both have no idea what the purpose of the union is and were very upset with how it turned out. The union is supposed to be the heart of campus activity. Our union is dead for the most part. There is really no reason for students to go there. It's a nice building to have on campus for special events, meetings, and shows, but it is not a functional student union. I think they can do better.

I graduated in 99, and I believe the old union building was still there. It was called Brooks Hall. It was torn down for the new library. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Not functional?  Have you been there at night when it is literally packed with students studying?  Sure, it doesn't have a student hangout for if you aren't doing anything like the Brooks Union did, but when they found that no one really used it.  There used to be that restaurant in the basement and they found that people would rather go to one of the chain places, Subway or Jimmy Johns or whatever. 

I think if you looked at student unions at most colleges it would be the same.  They just aren't the place they used to be years ago, most are just a waste of space because to today's student the notion that a campus building is the heart of activity at school is antiquated.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

To me, the AMU doesn't serve its purpose as a student union. I come from a Marquette family and know two people on the donor plaques near the main stairs. Both have no idea what the purpose of the union is and were very upset with how it turned out. The union is supposed to be the heart of campus activity. Our union is dead for the most part. There is really no reason for students to go there. It's a nice building to have on campus for special events, meetings, and shows, but it is not a functional student union. I think they can do better.

I graduated in 99, and I believe the old union building was still there. It was called Brooks Hall. It was torn down for the new library. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Brooks was torn down for the library.

[gjreda]

I agree with what bma said above.  The AMU is definitely used by the students.  They don't hang out there, but I have met with groups for projects / studying there several times.  There is usually a significant amount of people studying there throughout the week.  It's where a lot of people go to be social and study at the same time.

[IAmMarquette]

The union is a popular study spot (I'd say 2nd to Raynor) and is always busy around lunchtime during the school year.

[gjreda]

The union is a popular study spot (I'd say 2nd to Raynor) and is always busy around lunchtime during the school year.

Usually a decent crowd around 10-11ish PM for Eagle Option (late night food for a meal swipe if you have a meal plan).

[MilTown]

I guess we have different opinions on what the union should be. If you think the union should be a giant study hall, then it serves a purpose. Even so, there is a lot of wasted space. Here is a bright idea, if students like Jimmy Johns or Subway, why not have those restaurants in the union??? The Pizza Hut just doesn't cut it, and same goes for the Marriott food service (or whatever is there now). Maybe toss a Starbucks or Jahmba Juice in the union. How about some retail other than the Bookstore? I just think they have made no effort whatsoever to improve the union and make it more of a destination for students. Part of it is due to the physical space.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

agreed on the physical space.  I think they did a good job of making it look cool from the outside, but inside it just turned into a warren of hallways and rooms and dead space.

[Phi Iota Gamma 84]

Best AMU memory hitting the MugRack, ask for the 32oz Beer in a Coke cup and head over to Physics lecture, then on to happy hour.