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UW - Rock County plans for future
New library, lecture hall being planned
By Hillary Wundrow
Daily News staff writer
The University of Wisconsin -Rock County is preparing for the future with an $11 million expansion, which will include a new library, lecture hall and classrooms for distance learning.
With 930 students at UW - Rock County, the campus at 2909 Kellogg Ave., Janesville, is bursting at the seams, according to Dean Diane Pillard.
“Our campus is 40 years old. The area needs extensive renovations and we are in desperate need of a library,” Pillard said. “This project is part of our master plan. I estimate it has been in the discussion phase for the past five years,” Pillard said.
The project, designed by Potter Lawson architects out of Madison, calls for 39,000 square feet of new space and 26,000 square feet of renovated space.
The main attraction will be a two story round library that will connect Hyatt Smith Hall with Andrews Hall. The new library building will also hold a second lecture hall for the campus.
“Currently we have only one lecture hall. It is booked every hour of the day,” Pillard said.
The existing library will be renovated into classroom, office space and tutorial centers. The expansion will also add state of the art distance learning classrooms adjacent to the library. The four rooms with be located around a center station.
“Each will have a window facing the center office area so our information technology person can see what is going on in those four classrooms at the same time,” Pillard said.
The pod set up will be for students enrolled in distance education programs. More and more UW-Rock County students are taking compressed video classes on campus.
Pillard said the $11 project is in its final stages. The Rock County Board of Supervisors have voted to move ahead with design plans and are expected to vote in favor of the entire project soon. Once the architects drawings are approved the project will go out for bid. Once the bids get in the county has to approve the contract with the person who offered the lowest price.
Rock County Supervisor Neil Deupree said the board has been supportive of the project so far.
“If our area is going to continue to grow and attract young people we have to have education available for them. This project enhances an already good program at UW Rock County,” Deupree said. “The campus really reaches a lot of people in our county who may not be able to afford or have time to go to a full time campus. It's a good foot in the door for lots of people.”
Pillard said ground could break on the project as early as April. The UW Rock County Foundation has already raised $1 million to offset the cost of the project. The county will pays for the buildings. The teacher's salaries are funded through the state budget.
In addition to offering an associate's degree program, UW Rock County has five bachelors degrees offered through collaborations with baccalaureate campuses.
The five bachelor degrees include an electrical engineering degree offered through the University of Wisconsin at Platteville, organization administration, communication and information resource degrees offered through UW-Milwaukee and a degree in liberal studies offered through UW-Whitewater.
By Hillary Wundrow
Daily News staff writer
The University of Wisconsin -Rock County is preparing for the future with an $11 million expansion, which will include a new library, lecture hall and classrooms for distance learning.
With 930 students at UW - Rock County, the campus at 2909 Kellogg Ave., Janesville, is bursting at the seams, according to Dean Diane Pillard.
“Our campus is 40 years old. The area needs extensive renovations and we are in desperate need of a library,” Pillard said. “This project is part of our master plan. I estimate it has been in the discussion phase for the past five years,” Pillard said.
The project, designed by Potter Lawson architects out of Madison, calls for 39,000 square feet of new space and 26,000 square feet of renovated space.
The main attraction will be a two story round library that will connect Hyatt Smith Hall with Andrews Hall. The new library building will also hold a second lecture hall for the campus.
“Currently we have only one lecture hall. It is booked every hour of the day,” Pillard said.
The existing library will be renovated into classroom, office space and tutorial centers. The expansion will also add state of the art distance learning classrooms adjacent to the library. The four rooms with be located around a center station.
“Each will have a window facing the center office area so our information technology person can see what is going on in those four classrooms at the same time,” Pillard said.
The pod set up will be for students enrolled in distance education programs. More and more UW-Rock County students are taking compressed video classes on campus.
Pillard said the $11 project is in its final stages. The Rock County Board of Supervisors have voted to move ahead with design plans and are expected to vote in favor of the entire project soon. Once the architects drawings are approved the project will go out for bid. Once the bids get in the county has to approve the contract with the person who offered the lowest price.
Rock County Supervisor Neil Deupree said the board has been supportive of the project so far.
“If our area is going to continue to grow and attract young people we have to have education available for them. This project enhances an already good program at UW Rock County,” Deupree said. “The campus really reaches a lot of people in our county who may not be able to afford or have time to go to a full time campus. It's a good foot in the door for lots of people.”
Pillard said ground could break on the project as early as April. The UW Rock County Foundation has already raised $1 million to offset the cost of the project. The county will pays for the buildings. The teacher's salaries are funded through the state budget.
In addition to offering an associate's degree program, UW Rock County has five bachelors degrees offered through collaborations with baccalaureate campuses.
The five bachelor degrees include an electrical engineering degree offered through the University of Wisconsin at Platteville, organization administration, communication and information resource degrees offered through UW-Milwaukee and a degree in liberal studies offered through UW-Whitewater.
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