UW-Eau Claire University Center Steering Meeting
Meeting Minutes
S202
July 28, 2009
8:00 – Noon
Beth Hellwig, Tim Lauer, Ray Maggi, David Hatton, Susan Harrison, Charles Farrell, Tim Luttrell, Jeff Kosloske,
Kate Hale, Jim Boulter, Michael Umhoefer, Shane Bernau, Mike Sturm, Ashraf Sadek, Rick Gonzales, Kevin
Marszalek, Jim Yurs, Rick Zahn
ACTION ITEMS FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
Bray/Burt Hill Change layouts to reflect restroom exit doors swinging out.
Widen hallway by Alumni Room
Add curve to opening of staircase or staircase itself
Slide doors to egress stairway back on third floor
Put sink and sanitizer in break areas on third floor
Add display areas on second floor and third floor for students
Charles Farrell Provide inventory of current furniture to be used in new building
Meet with Kim Way to discuss Circle of Excellence wall
Committee
Establish date for design team to make presentation to the Plan Commission
Meet with biology and other pertinent departments regarding Little Niagara
Set up meeting with Sciences
Chancellor
Meet with members of the community and City Council
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Introductions were made.
The agenda was reviewed.
Minutes from the July 14 meeting were approved.
Rick Zahn went over the site plan. Utility service to the building was reviewed. The steam line is being
improved under a separate project. The steam line will come from upper campus and connect on the
southwest end of the building. Natural gas will be picked up from where it came into Davies and then
go under Little Niagara and to the southwest side of the building. Sanitary sewer will go to the lift
station by Phillips. This will mean relocating the sanitary sewer from Nursing. A separate discharge will
be from the kitchen to the grease trap. This would then go to the lift station by Phillips. Conduit to a
geothermal well field for heating and cooling will be on the northwest side of building. Bray/Burt Hill
favors installing a box culvert to put all utilities in one place. Signal and power runs from Nursing to
Phillips and the new building would tie into it. Potable water would be drawn from the line that runs
from north of Phillips. The water would be rerun and allow for future expansion. Chilled water would
come from near the library.
5. Storm water – There is an existing pair of culverts that take care of flood water from the wetlands by
Nursing. Bray/Burt would like to have the culverts replaced. They are not sufficient to handle the semis
and deliveries in the new building. The alignment of those culverts makes putting in new utilities
difficult.
6. Nursing will be affected in the next few weeks. The committee needs to give them a timeline.
7. Rick outlined the preliminary grading plans. Some runoff will go to existing wetlands. A small segment
in front of the building will go to a rain garden that is in the parking lot. The new parking area will drain
to a rain garden on the northeast side of the lot and then discharge into creek. The north side of the
building will drain into Little Niagara. The loading dock area and the road in front of nursing will drain
into Little Niagara. They will put some type of filter in that area to absorb grease and oils before the
water enters the creek.
8. Roof water will have three spots off the north face that come down to a storm sewer to the creek or to a
box culvert.
9. There will be significant cost to haul in fill.
10. Dry land access – the connection to the west has been picked. The roadway in front of Nursing is under
the flood plain requirement and will need work. A turning radius evaluation was done. The Master Plan
or Parking Committees will need to address widening the road on the southeast side of the Phillips
building.
11. The existing parking configuration has 434 spaces. Bray/Burt Hill optimized the new building to 359
spaces. This represents a loss of 75 parking spaces.
12. DNR permitting – A number of permits are required. These include grading, bridge structures, utility
crossing, and modification for storm water outfall. Submittal for permits will be in August. Some
information from the EIS needs to be included in the request for permits. Restoring Little Niagara is not
part of the UW-EC university center project.
13. Beth asked for a brief synopsis for Nursing to describe what is going to happen and the timeline. Ash
and Rick Zahn will provide this.
14. Parking – A question was asked if there are spots for small cars? The state standard is already small.
Tim Luttrell said the campus can dictate moped or compact car spaces as they feel necessary.
15. Question on whether there would be any problems with getting permits. Bray/Burt Hill responded
these are standard permits with minimal chance of denial. It may be necessary to provide additional
information. A public notice is required for grading. If there is a response to the public notice, a public
hearing could be necessary.
16. Green roof and plaza update – Bray/Burt Hill’s intention was to extend the Putnam Park feel to the
student union. Treatment along Little Niagara includes walkways on both sides. Crushed stone rock
along the sidewalk with benches for seating were added.
17. The culvert over the area by the loading dock was raised as a concern. It is not intended that this area
be part of the project. This may be something the DNR will make a decision on and the university will
have to react.
18. The new campus quad will be seeded and the elevation has been looked at.
19. It was requested Bray/Burt Hill add a buffer down by Cabin so there is something to protect the building
by the loading dock turnaround.
20. Different examples of bridges where shown. The bridges will need to fit with the overall campus feel.
21. A diagram of the amphitheater with examples of terracing were shown. It had trees and natural looking
terracing. Electrical will be installed in that area.
22. Green roof – There are three types: extensive, semi-intensive and intensive. Bray/Burt Hill are looking
at an extensive roof. DFS is working on guidelines for green roofs and expects to be completed this fall.
23. Beth requested the plant people consider the Council Oak and other memorial trees. There is a need to
establish “sacred” space where they will not be disturbed for several years.
24. The committee defined the restrooms by the front entrance in yesterday’s meeting. They will be one
stall family restrooms.
25. Bray/Burt Hill went over updates that were made to the layouts as outlined and defined in the July 14th
meeting.
26. Discussion on comments made on The Cabin. The new Cabin is more user friendly and will be able to be
used for more diverse venues. Tim questioned the alcohol policy and how this would affect people on
the second floor. The committee will look into this.
27. There was a question on whether there is a need for more than one exit in The Cabin. Bray/Burt Hill will
check on this.
28. Column location needs to be coordinated.
29. The small recycling area needs to be larger and more contained.
30. It was felt a separate meeting will be needed to discuss the loading dock area.
31. Concerns were raised on the privacy of the ATM machine. There is no space for people who are waiting
to use the ATM and they could block the flow through the entrance.
32. Is the vending space big enough to get the vending machines in? Charles thought putting four in the
vending area and two on the second floor would fix this.
33. Jim reviewed the kitchen layout they have worked out with Sodexo. The architects are comfortable with
getting mechanical space and not disturbing program. The Mongolian grill is a challenge to exhaust.
34. There will be no underground venting on this building due to the flood plain.
35. Questions were raised on crossing electrical with chilled water and steam. Bray/Burt Hill will flip the
rooms. Jeff questioned whether there was a need for a fire pump. It will be decided at the meeting on
August 10.
36. Is there a need for a second exit on the media room? Bray/Burt Hill will follow up on this.
37. Charles’ group will review their layout.
38. The main stairway on third floor was eliminated. This is a concern as it may be difficult to find the way
to the third floor if there is no continuing stairway.
39. On the second level of The Cabin it will look like the stone goes up the wall.
40. Elevator room space is a placeholder, but it could go upstairs. Bray/Burt Hill is waiting for specs.
41. There are some elevation issues with the terrace. Jeff was concerned about water backing up. There
may need to be some kind of ramping.
42. Is there a need for a second exit in the meeting room on the east end of the building on third floor? A
code analysis will need to be done.
43. The janitorial closet location on the third floor is probably not big enough. The committee will wait until
comments in September to see if it meets the user’s needs.
44. Corriders by Student Organizations and the Alumni Room were narrowed. Bray/Burt Hill will check to
see if they can be widened.
45. Ceiling heights for the ballrooms have not been finalized. The architects are trying for 18-20 feet.
46. Meetings room heights are to be at least 10 – 10-1/2 feet in height.
47. There will be a budget update in September. Tim felt he hasn’t seen anything that has caused him to
consider any budget problems.
48. This project is not replacing parking outside of the project’s limits.
49. Any asphalt damaged will be fixed.
50. Ramping is automatically taken care of with the sidewalks.
51. No P.A. system is planned in the new building but there will be an updated fire alarm system. Charles
thought there should be a P.A. system. Bray/Burt Hill will evaluate.
52. The preliminary Pre-Planning document has been finalized and copies will be distributed in the near
future.
53. Heating plans for the building – solar and geo-thermal options are included. The Cabin and Alumni
Room will have a geo-thermal system. Examining a potential state wide contract for heating water with
solar. What is the capacity of the geo-thermal field out by the library? Master Planning needs to
determine geo-thermal field areas.
54. Need reasonable life cycle cost for energy saving devices.
55. Exterior elevations and materials refinements – Ray Maggi brought materials that could be used on the
building. Mortar is also important. It accounts for 40% of the color of the building. DFS has standards
for mortar and colors. The color of the stone for the front of the building was discussed. Bray/Burt Hill
had examples of integrating stone with the windows.
56. Bray/Burt Hill are looking for initial reactions for the stone they brought.
57. The Cabin and the chimney were discussed. The committee wanted to see what the metal would look
like in more detail. It is not really a chimney but an illusion of one. Had examples of metal for different
aspects of the building. The committee would like more warm colors for the metal and stone on some
of the chimney if possible.
58. Need to maintain some natural light on south side of building.
59. On south side of building have engraved panels or something to give lower portion some more
character. Roof line on the south side is very flat. Solutions to this included putting brick banding on
top of building and putting the same type of stone that is on the front of the building on the wall by the
loading dock.
60. Meeting was adjourned.