UW-Eau Claire University Center Steering Meeting
June 30, 2009
S202
8:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Charles Farrell, Rick Gonzales, Susan Harrison, Terry Classen, Beth Hellwig, Jeff Kosloske, Michael Umhoefer, Ash
Sadek, Arthur San Filippo, David Hatton, Ray Maggi, Tim Luttrell, Albin Khouw, Tim Lauer
1. Bray/Burt Hill started with a discussion on the food service concepts for the new building.
2. Layouts for the first floor kitchen were shown. The floor plan of the kitchen and path from loading dock
were reviewed. The space has a separate catering area, but could not accommodate a bakery. The
location of the equipment was explained. There is a separate Mongolian and International space
although they can share resources. There would not be a big capital investment if a change of venue
was decided in the future.
3. Bray/Burt Hill are implementing variable fan drive motors for the exhaust fans in the cooking areas.
They provide state-of-art efficiency. They also reduce the amount of exhaust and noise. There are six
vents to the roof. Questions were raised on whether the space for these vents could run through space
needed on another floor.
4. Concern was raised about the cost of employees in the kitchen area. They will need to be more skilled
and therefore will be higher paid.
5. It is thought the noise level in the servery could be high as there is no door. The architects thought it
was important to keep the cooks from having their backs to the customer.
6. Jeff Kosloske asked if room has been allowed for electrical and utilities. The plans reflect electrical.
Mechanical layouts are being generated.
7. Trayless and disposable concepts were discussed. There is a need for a dish room to support the Dulany
Room.
8. It was decided the entrance for the dish drop could have a door on it or be used for recycling stations.
9. Members of the committee questioned where steam is going to come into the building.
10. The central food island will be able to have cold food and salad or a hot buffet. Grab and go and the deli
station will be next to the salad bar.
11. There is capacity for five cashiers out of the servery and one in the C-store. The size of the entrance was
discussed.
12. Charles will take a copy of the layout of the servery for Sodexo to evaluate. There will be additional
meetings to finalize the final plan.
13. The dishwasher in use at the Davies Center will eventually move to Hilltop. There is room on the third
floor of the new building for a dishwasher.
14. A suggestion was made to move grab and go to back wall of the C-store.
15. How much input will Sodexo want on signage for the servery? Charles has an employee who is very
good at generating concepts for signage. She works with the students and Sodexo to get these concepts
developed. Need to decide by October the signage for each area of the servery.
16. Ray Maggi presented Bray/Burt Hill’s updated seating plan. There are 604 seats in the dining area in
Option 1 and 614 in Option 2. Option 1 is missing the curved banquette seating. The architects added
booths with a variety of types of seating. The area was also changed to a one level area.
17. Option 2 has the banquettes. They would be movable. The group liked Option 2 better but wanted to
incorporate the booths from Option 1 into the overall plan.
18. Jeff Kosloske suggested not using glass panels on stairways.
19. A media tower could be incorporated into the column at the entrance of the eating area by the stairway.
20. Seating in Option 1 has 604 seats on the first floor, 250 in living room, 106 in The Cabin and 56
miscellaneous seats on the 1st floor. The Dulany has 102 seats not including the Heritage Room. There
are 144 seats on the second floor lounges, 40 in the media lounge and 90 pre-function seats on the third
floor. Charles would like more seating as the new plan has about the same number of seating as the
current Davies Center.
21. The Alumni Room was brought up as a possible space to open up during lunch. Charles would like to see
the maximum seating capacity layout. This could include looking into the retail space for additional
capacity although this would be a last resort. Thoughts of cutting into bookstore were discussed.
22. There are eight computer station areas.
23. The Heritage and Dulany rooms are not considered seating space for the general population.
24. A grouping of the furniture for the new building should be setup and be used to compare how much
space is between the tables so committee members can get a physical idea of the spacing.
25. A suggestion to gain more space included enclosing the second floor terrace. Putting pop out areas
where window space is was also suggested.
26. Blugold card office has been revised per the sketches forwarded to Bray/Burt Hill. Some of the changes
should have been incorporated into the second floor not the first. Bray/Burt Hill will implement into
second floor and forward to the committee.
27. Bathrooms on the first floor by the main entrance seem like a waste of prime space in the new building.
Could put just one unisex bathroom by Blugold office to create table space. Bray/Burt Hill would like
vending machines to be invisible when entering the main entryway. Will also add table space in main
lobby area by Blugold Office.
28. Is there a need for a privacy area in the banking area? A glass wall could be put up to provide for this.
29. Bray/Burt Hill have been talking to Barnes and Noble about the bookstore. They thought they might
need a larger back of house for textbook receiving.
30. The Cabin was an issue before. The architects expanded the chimney stack to tuck the staircase into the
fireplace. Putting the fireplace in the corner was raised as an option. It was thought that it would be
pleasing to look at from the outside. A wood fireplace is not an option. The option of removing one
stairway in the Cabin and incorporating the stairway outside the entrance was brought up. Bray/Burt
Hill states this would not be allowed because of the purpose of the staircase. Could have a display case
in the large area outside of the Cabin but no furniture as it has to be clear.
31. Two configurations for the ballroom were presented. One has the stage on the west side and the other
on the south side. The seating counts are the same at 500 seats. The catering kitchen moved to the
back of house. The green room would function as a lounge when not being used. Pocket lounges were
added. Questions were raised on where the Imperial grand piano would be used. Concerns over space
used for ramps versus using a lift in ballroom. It was thought that according to code, with a fixed stage,
you have to have a ramp.
32. Does it make sense to have a portable stage in the large ballroom? The pros and cons were discussed.
If a portable stage was decided on, what would the extra space be used for?
33. Tim was wondering about the vault for the ballroom. There are issues with sound. Bray/Burt Hill are
looking at having higher ceilings at some ends of the building. Barrel vaulting is still available as an
option and Bray/Burt Hill will look at this.
34. In Option 2 (stage on south side of ballroom) the green room is in the back of house and doesn’t double
as a lounge. Most of the committee preferred Option 1. The stage area could function as open space
allowing for different options depending on the event. It was decided to go with Option 1 with a
temporary stage.
35. There are currently 24 women’s bathrooms on the third floor. Change restroom entrance doors so they
swing out when exiting.
36. Capacity for the ballroom is 500. Looked at theatre style layout and site lines.
37. Theatre capacity is 200+.
38. Bray/Burt Hill needs an inventory of current furniture that will be used in the new building.
39. Theatre chairs have not been decided on at this point.
40. The fourth floor will be a mechanical penthouse. Some areas are double height. The southwest side will
be taken for mechanical space and then there would be additional storage space. This assumes the
stage area in ballroom will be lower. Burt/Bray Hill is still working on this floor to optimize the storage
space.
41. The green roof is the terrace on third floor. It is not on the fourth floor. The fourth floor is not for public
use.
42. Bray/Burt Hill are investigating solar and geo-thermal as an energy source. Looking specifically at the
Cabin and Alumni Room. There isn’t the capacity to use this energy source on the whole building.
43. Nursing Entry – Bray/Burt Hill has a 20 foot wall facing the nursing entrance and trees to somewhat hide
the loading dock. The entry to the new building is much closer than the current building. The entrance
by the Cabin is still much closer also.
44. Terry asked what was given up to add the women’s bathroom on the third floor. Bray/Burt Hill moved
things around to accommodate this request.
45. Bray/Burt Hill would like to finalize the first floor plan so their engineers can go forward. Albin Khouw
needs to have further meetings with Sodexo to finalize equipment and layout of the kitchen.
46. It was decided to move the loading dock issue to the next meeting. Tim wants to see where exhaust is
going by the next meeting.
47. Meeting schedules for DFS/Bray/Burt Hills meetings was distributed by Bray/Burt Hill. Item 5 will
require the whole steering committee. Reviewed who needs to be present at each meeting.
48. At one of the next joint meetings the group will meet in the afternoon. On July 13 the group will meet
from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
49. It was suggested having a meeting on Tuesday, July 14 from 4:30 – 6:00 to inform students what is going
on. Ask them for comments after the meeting.
50. Tim asked where the architects are in regards to the outside of the building. The exterior design has to
be approved by DFS.
51. On the 25 of August Bray/Burt Hill are supposed to give the university an update of the complete
building.
52. Finishes are a big part of the project and Susan Harrison thought the building committee should be
invited to the meeting where finishes are discussed.
53. Meeting adjourned.