New column ‘Hidden Treasures’ will share stories from Union’s past
By Emily Connor, UW-Madison journalism major Wisconsin Union staff have been helping construction crews each week pack up the hallways and rooms of some of the Union’s favorite spaces. It’s all in preparation for the Memorial Union Reinvestment construction and while temporarily parting ways with some of the Union’s favorite places may be tough, packing up has brought many happy surprises. Watch to see how packing up...
It’s construction season at Memorial Union!
By Jacklyn John, Memorial Union Reinvestment project coordinator After years of planning for the first phase of the Memorial Union Reinvestment project, construction has finally begun. The first phase of the Memorial Union Reinvestment project focuses mainly on Memorial Union’s west wing, and partition walls have been built on every floor to block the rest of the building from the impact of construction. While construction crews will...
Preserving Paul Bunyan: saving one of the Union’s most treasured rooms
By Herschel Kissinger & Zach Thomae, Wisconsin Union interns Being in the Paul Bunyan Room earlier this June was like watching a story being untold. At first, the room was alive with warmth and color with the tales of Paul Bunyan being illustrated on all four walls. As the hours grew longer, the story came down in pieces, unscrewed and dismantled panel by panel, until all that was left were empty walls. A woman named Joan Gorman...
Giving back to a place that keeps on giving
By Anna Johnson, member relations intern At the age of 85, George Elder remains a regular visitor to the Union he loves so much. He was recently spotted at the Fan Taylor Memorial dinner and concert, sharing his stories and celebrating the Memorial Union and its staff. He said, “It’s just something everyone can relate to. Students one way, alumni another. You go back there. [It] maintains the relationship between the University and...
Updated lounge design testifies to collaborative design process
By Jacklyn John, Memorial Union project coordinator No aspect of the Memorial Union Reinvestment has received more attention or generated more controversy than the proposed student/Theater lounge addition directly to the north of the Union Theater. Attention surrounding any proposed addition to Memorial Union is not surprising, given the deep connection to the building among students, alumni and community members. Some members of the...
Lakefront Gateway Project will link Lake Mendota & campus
By Marie Renckens, membership marketing intern Renovations at the Terrace aren’t the only lakefront improvements to look forward to in the coming years. Along with these improvements will come the new Alumni Park and Shoreline Rehabilitation Project– all together named the Lakefront Gateway Project. In 2005, the University took a renewed look at the Campus Master Plan and decided to move forward to fully embrace the university’s...