UWT Master Plan Update
Pssst… for those folks discussing UWT in the forum and others that care, here’s a little update:
Chancellor Pat Spakes and Ysabel Trinidad, the Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services, gave an update on UWT and its future to the Economic Development Committee yesterday. The new Phillip Hall is both on time and on budget. The opening is planned for Fall of 2008.
They discussed the next phases of expansion for the University. The Joy building (located on Pacific Ave next to Grassis) is already in the pre-planning stages and they will be requesting the money to begin construction in the next budget cycle. However, the Joy building will not be able to fully accommodate their needs. They are also planning to build a new building next to the Tioga building, across Jefferson from the The Rock and Buzzards. It will have a skybridge to the library and at this point is conceptualized as a 4 story, 10,000 square foot building.
The Tioga building and the Spaghetti Factory are both owned by the University but are in poor condition and the cost of restoration is more than the cost of new construction. The Tioga building is literally falling apart, with the University spending money to keep the bricks from falling off the sides.
The new space is desperately needed. Chancellor Spakes reports that broom closets are being converted to faculty offices and space is being leased in the Carlton Building for administrative facilities.
One last thing… The University is currently undergoing a housing study to look at the long term needs of student housing in the area. UWT is currently about the size of UPS and is growing by 300 to 400 students per year. Student housing on campus was not in the master plan of the university. Where this will lead… we’ll see.
This town is changing!
6 comments
S Squid December 19, 2007
Housing may have not been specifically addressed in the master plan, but none of the new buildings up hill from Market had specific programs attached. Architects always informally acknowledged that if/when the mission evolved to include residential students that there were multiple options to accommodate them. That might not have been in official documents, but it was always in the discussion mix.
M morgan December 19, 2007
Years ago, there was talk about focusing on the Dome District for student housing. This would allow more of the UWT campus footprint to be used for classroom and admin space. Plus, students are up day and night studying and partying, so they won’t notice all the trains going by.
Re: Joy building – I thought I had heard something about a new floor being added on top. Can anyone confirm this?
C citywonk December 19, 2007
I hope they will rethink the skybridge. Skybridges take people off the sidewalks and reduce the sense of vitality (and safety) that foot traffic gives an area.
D drizell December 21, 2007
The one thing I would like seen done on the UWT campus immediately is have the rails pulled up on the rail line that cuts through the middle of campus and the railroad ROW cleaned up. Not so pleasant to see a beautifully landscaped campus and then a rail corridor full of weeds. The skybridge between the Science and Keystone buildings was built when there were still trains plowing through the campus every day. I agree that the use of sky bridges is questionable, especially if they are built right over perfectly walkable street level sidewalks and neglecting the businesses that may front those sidewalks.
S Squid December 21, 2007
Anybody know the ownership status of the tracks? When the campus first opened in 1997 the tracks were actually still operating and owned by BNSF. I think they have abandoned the tracks for use, but they may maintain ownership, which makes their removal problematic. BNSF drives a hard bargain. But you are right drizell, it would be great to see their removal, just not sure if UW actually controls them.
BTW, the current skybridge linking the science building to the old warehouses was put in because of ADA regulations. The hill is so steep that the existing ramps do not provide legal access from that building to Commerce. There were also safety issues with trains running through campus up to 4x daily.
G gritcitygirl December 21, 2007
the tracks are still owned by BNSF. the university can’t touch them until ownership is transfered. and who knows when that will happen…