Recommendations for Return to Campus

[The Sultan]

One of the downsides of Marquette's campus though is that it doesn't have a singular "look." Every building looks like it was designed independent of the rest. You see that often at public institutions, but private ones usually try to have sort of consistency. 

[warriorchick]

One of the downsides of Marquette's campus though is that it doesn't have a singular "look." Every building looks like it was designed independent of the rest. You see that often at public institutions, but private ones usually try to have sort of consistency.

They have actually been working towards that singular look.  Cudahy was the last building that didn't draw from Marquette Hall as a theme.  It's not like they are going to tear down perfectly good buildings because they don't "match". 

Any university that is 140 years old is going to have some diversity in architectural style.

[The Sultan]

Of course not. And really the most important thing is that the buildings are functional. But even when I went through campus last year, it seemed odd to me.

[Dr. Blackheart]

I believe it is for the non-basketball athletes. Although, I thought I saw on my season tickets pamphlet this year an opportunity to donate to a second phase that would include basketball.

The new men's basketball facility will be adjoining but the current one is primarily for LAX and golf.

[StillAWarrior]

They have actually been working towards that singular look.  Cudahy was the last building that didn't draw from Marquette Hall as a theme.  It's not like they are going to tear down perfectly good buildings because they don't "match". 

Any university that is 140 years old is going to have some diversity in architectural style.

The style of the stone is very different than the brick buildings, but the front of Cudahy has two "towers" that seem clearly inspired by the bell tower next door. I thought the design of the new engineering building was a very creative modern reflection of MU Hall. I don't really see the how MU Hall is reflected in the new business school. I'm not disagreeing with you...but can you point it out for me? Perhaps the color of the bricks?

[shoothoops]

Question about campus athletic facilities:  I was surprised to notice a really nice weight room in the facility that is across the street from the Al. Is that where the athletes work out? Specifically basketball? I always assumed that the Al housed those types of facilities for the athletes.

Technically it is the home of lacrosse and golf. However, sometimes other teams use it too. The Old Gym is the home of track, cross country, tennis and soccer. But they sometimes use the other facility too.

[dgies9156]

One of the downsides of Marquette's campus though is that it doesn't have a singular "look." Every building looks like it was designed independent of the rest. You see that often at public institutions, but private ones usually try to have sort of consistency.

That has been a rap on Marquette since the 1960s.

It ain't what's on the outside. It's what's on the inside.

[Dr. Blackheart]

The style of the stone is very different than the brick buildings, but the front of Cudahy has two "towers" that seem clearly inspired by the bell tower next door. I thought the design of the new engineering building was a very creative modern reflection of MU Hall. I don't really see the how MU Hall is reflected in the new business school. I'm not disagreeing with you...but can you point it out for me? Perhaps the color of the bricks?

The new Business building is a mixture of the traditional brick and modern glass design. The new Nursing school (old Business) and Health & Recreation buildings will match that style.

[Coleman]

They have actually been working towards that singular look.  Cudahy was the last building that didn't draw from Marquette Hall as a theme.  It's not like they are going to tear down perfectly good buildings because they don't "match". 

Any university that is 140 years old is going to have some diversity in architectural style.

It seems like they were doing that for a while, and it was working. You can see some architectural unity from the buildings built during the first decade of the 2000s (Raynor, Al McGuire Center, Dental School, Law School), but the newer buildings are getting away from that look....The business school doesn't have that style at all. It is just super boxy with lots of glass. And the Straz Hall reno is a decidedly different style from the buildings built in 2002-2008ish.  I am not a fan of the change.

[cheebs09]

It seems like they were doing that for a while, and it was working (Raynor, Al McGuire Center, Dental School), but the newer buildings are getting away from that look....The business school doesn't have that style at all. It is just super boxy with lots of glass.

Agreed. The AHPR and PA School building definitely went away from that model.

[Coleman]

Agreed. The AHPR and PA School building definitely went away from that model.

Yep, those too.

[The Sultan]

Wondering if its because they are no longer using Opus.

[Coleman]

Wondering if its because they are no longer using Opus.

Didn't know that was the case. Do you know why? I thought MU and Opus were very tight...Our College of Engineering is named after them?

The architecture has definitely taken a huge step down. I think we will look back at these buildings as eyesores in 30 years, while Raynor, Eckstein Hall, et. al will still look nice.  C'est la vie.

[The Sultan]

Didn't know that was the case. Do you know why? I thought MU and Opus were very tight...Our College of Engineering is named after them?

The architecture has definitely taken a huge step down. I think we will look back at these buildings as eyesores in 30 years, while Raynor, Eckstein Hall, et. al will still look nice.  C'est la vie.

It was designed by Workshop and built by Findorff.

Why? Maybe a change in leadership at Opus. (I believe there was an alumni connection there at one point.) Maybe the BOT decided to bid out all building projects. Maybe a dissatisfaction by either party. It could be all sorts of reasons.

[warriorchick]

Maybe the BOT decided to bid out all building projects.

Let's hope they have always done this.

[The Sultan]

Let's hope they have always done this.

If they have used one firm for as long as they have, my guess is that they prioritized the working relationships and consistency over what could be incremental price savings. So they either didn't bid everything, or maybe they bid them out and went with Opus unless it was outrageously different than the others. But a lot of private schools will stick with one contractor.

[Coleman]

If they have used one firm for as long as they have, my guess is that they prioritized the working relationships and consistency over what could be incremental price savings. So they either didn't bid everything, or maybe they bid them out and went with Opus unless it was outrageously different than the others. But a lot of private schools will stick with one contractor.

Also, a lot of these buildings were built were in spurts...like the Dental School, Raynor, and the Al (I believe) were all part of one big fundraising campaign. They might have put out all of those to bid at the same time and picked one firm to design them all.

[Dr. Blackheart]

I think a lot of the new designs are built for environmental and sustainability standards.

[🏀]

Opus isn't quite the company they used to be. Rauenhorst passed and the Marquette stewardship left the building. They are more focused on commercial developments and real estate at this point.

They weren't given blank checks by any means from Marquette, but Gerry ensured the profit margin on Marquette work was minimal, to say the least.

After Gerry passed and the company evolved/devolved, Marquette started looking at different GCs through the COE-Construction department. Opus headquarters left Milwaukee and they don't participate in the co-op program anymore.

It was a good thing for both parties, MU is paying more for construction now than before.

Regardless, the style of buildings has nothing to do with the contractor.

[The Sultan]

Did Opus do the previous design work as well?

[shoothoops]

These things have been discussed but I saw this article this weekend:

https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2024/01/05/friday-photos-its-construction-season-on-marquette-campus/

The new nursing school (Straz) design looks similar to the new business school design. I'm not a fan of either design. Oh well. Those are the designs. (I'm all for progress and improvements.) I'm less of a fan of the location of the new business school. I'll have to wait and see with the Rec. Skeptical but hopeful.

I do like the (long overdue) Wisconsin Ave facing design update to the library.

[Jay Bee]

We have a library on campus?!?!

[Coleman]

I think a lot of the new designs are built for environmental and sustainability standards.

That's great. But you can have an environmental and sustainable building that still looks nice. This ain't it

[MU1in77]

We have a library on campus?!?!

I was in the library almost ever day - the big chairs were perfect for taking a nap between classes without having to go back to my apartment!

[warriorchick]

That's great. But you can have an environmental and sustainable building that still looks nice. This ain't it

It's still 100 times more attractive than the old nursing building.

I really don't care all that much about the outside of the building. But I have been inside the building a couple of times in the past six months and it's going to be amazing.  Our nursing school (which has grown 150% since 2010) is going to have some of the best facilities in the country.