UWEC New Student Union

Steering Committee and Design Team Meeting

February 18, 2010

Page 9 of 9

Meeting Minutes

Project: University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Campus – New Student Union

Project No.: DSF #07E2D, Bray #2934

Meeting Date: February 18, 2010

Present: Russ Van Gilder, DSF

Terry Classen, UWEC

Charles Farrell, UWEC

Rick Gonzales, UWEC

Susan Harrison, UWEC

Beth Hellwig, UWEC

Mike …?, UWEC

Randy Palmer, UWEC

David Hatton, Burt Hill

Ray Maggi, Burt Hill

Shawn Plum, Burt Hill

Ashraf Sadek, Bray Architects

Tena Bolstad, Bray Architects

Rick Zahn, Rettler Corporation

Reported By: Ashraf Sadek/tb, Bray Architects

Purpose of Meeting: Steering Committee - “Where we are now in the process” meeting to review updated building design and confirm program

Discussion/Action

1.  Introductions

2.  Any last revisions to meeting minutes from the January 28, 2010 steering committee meeting should be sent to Dr. Hellwig by Friday, February 19, 2010 at 4pm. She will compile and forward all comments to Ashraf Sadek, Bray, for inclusion in the final meetings minutes from 01/28/10; the minutes will then be posted on the project website.

3.  CIVIL SITE OVERVIEW, Rick Zahn, Rettler

What has changed since last January and also address concerns from side site meeting during last steering committee meeting (01/28/10).

  1. Building footprint has compacted
  2. East end
  3. stays the same
  4. West end
  5. gained 10ft with buffer for the Council Oak Tree
  6. Infiltration was at north end and has moved to small island
  7. PARKING has changed considerably
  8. KSD created a composite drawing with 4 options
  9. reconfigured bus loop
  10. cut down number of lanes of traffic pedestrians cross, students will still cross parking lot, but not extra bus lane, cross before buses enter the loop
  11. OPTION B, preferred option by KSD and DSF
  12. Triangle nature of parking mimics triangular plaza.
  13. Gives nice access and maximizes number of parking spaces, space for handicap and allows bioswale infiltration area
  14. Mike, UWEC, OPTION A-bioswale is close to primary switchgear and pit for switchgear and steam pit, 2 electrical conduits are near to this and according to regulations these need to be moved
  15. David, Burt Hill, prefers Option A; feels dropoff is too close to handicapped parking with Option B and entrance-people will park by front door and dropoff
  16. Options A, B & C – bus dropoff is basically the same, the parking changes
  17. Option D, reduces parking spaces, won’t work, can’t get buses through
  18. Remove several parking spaces and create dropoff close to entrance
  19. Rick, UWEC

1.  Bus dropoff is not typically used during the day so there would be no bus dropoff in parking unless special event

2.  People tend to park and wait, if there is a drop off people will park and sit

  1. Possibly reserve the lot for GF and handicap usage

1.  GF – guaranteed faculty spaces, for which the faculty pays a fee and receives a permit, there are a set amount of spaces on campus

  1. EAST END OF PARKING (Utilities)
  2. Mike – steam tunnel now in the middle of the bus line
  3. Can existing steam conduits and pits be abandoned in place
  4. Need to be removed per Rick.
  5. Switchgear is primary electric above ground now-can it go underground?
  6. Steam project designed by Ayres, submitting final documents next week.

1.  Rettler and Ayres need to resolve before Ayres documents are submitted.

  1. Within the plaza, can create landscape pods to disguise electrical boxes
  2. Steampits are distance sensitive, existing can’t be moved far from where they are now
  3. Need to develop utility corridors
  4. 2 steampits need to be cut off and either removed or abandoned in place
  5. WEST END OF PARKING (Utilities and dryland access)
  6. Building grade is 780, need to maintain 779 up to 15’ out from building and then slope down
  7. Match in to existing roadway
  8. 3 considerations:

1.  Dryland Access

2.  Utility Corridors

3.  Buffer around tree

  1. Utility Corridor for chilled and potable water, it now crosses Little Niagara, without touching the tree’s zone, runs around the side of the building
  2. Existing storm sewer:

1.  50 years old and corrugated metal

2.  Can leave alone and deal with the situation later when the sewer fails

3.  Can reconstruct in place

4.  Can reconstruct portion under new roadway

5.  Can reinforce areas to deal with added structural loads

6.  Steamline project – making short term connections assuming existing will not be existing for very long

7.  Storm sewer has a bend in front of nursing

  1. Dryland access

1.  Roadway now comes off Putnam through corner.

2.  Need to hit 776.5 for dryland access; small portions were slightly less than that.

3.  Revisit dryland access from the East, per meeting on 28th

4.  Can push drive lane farther north.

5.  Can put a bend in it near Nursing.

6.  If were to come around back of Nursing, would have to raise the grade.

7.  Previously: couldn’t come from the East (dips in areas south of Phillips would be too cost prohibitive to rectify, so created the option from the West) condition of Putnam and connection were in too poor of condition to upgrade.

8.  NO SEGREGATED FEE $ CAN BE USED FOR PARKING OR ROADWAYS = UW SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS.

9.  Per Rick G. UWEC, the campus was not consulted on dryland access from the east.

  1. Had previously understood the south of Phillips (parking) would be untouched with dryland access from the west, now will need to go back to the campus and notify them more parking spots will be affected if dryland access comes from the east.

10.  Costs would be about the same if dryland access comes from the east or west.

11.  12’ piece of art to be located south of Phillips may be affected depending on location of dryland access.

12.  Snow removal-bioretention swale in middle of parking may be a spot to put the snow.

13.  TO DO:

  1. Rick Zahn, Rettler-will do a cost estimate analysis on various options for dryland access; will also do a quick cost analysis for the storm sewer and cost of extending piping instead of leaving and how much roadway would be affected.
  2. To do-work out location of electrical boxes, steam pits and plaza area so can sign off on Ayres bid documents next week (week of 02/22/10).
  3. Still need direction to confirm the configuration of the parking lot, triangle vs. drop off. As long as the bus loop and plaza don’t change the details can be adjusted and worked out at a later date.
  4. Open question: which end to bring dryland access in from?
  5. East or west?
  6. Look at possibility of south of Nursing
  7. To remove the road north of Nursing would be a good thing.

e.  There will be another meeting to specifically discuss the parking lot/dryland access.

  1. Site plan notes per Randy, UWEC
  2. SW corner of library (north of creek) they don’t like the steps, will just be more work to maintain, revise to put in ramp. Steps are more work and ramp will also facilitate snow removal.
  3. North of Phillips sidewalk needs to be looked at…doesn’t work well, concept doesn’t allow pedestrian traffic from Schofield to Phillip.
  4. NURSING
  5. During construction, Nursing will be completely cut off from campus, so there was a commitment to Nursing to improve road access package to the west as this will be their only access to parking. If the access road to the east is improved, will still need to address the west?
  6. Block with construction fence needs to be rethought-patients need to get to the clinic, nurses need to get to parking lot
  7. Can there be a separate project to clean up the west end and culverts?

4.  REVIEW OF 1st FLOOR PLAN-Shawn & Ray, Burt Hill

  1. Ray – general strategy
  2. Looked at efficiencies, brought net to gross ratio closer to acceptable
  3. Looked at opportunities to keep every bit of program intact
  4. Looked at circulation spaces: example-main entry was 20 ft. originally, 15 ft. now
  5. Shawn:
  6. Entrance basically the same
  7. Lounge, vending, cyber café still the same
  8. Pulled desk back and curved to achieve more gracious appearance
  9. Bank service asked for conference meeting room with desk, chairs and counter for max card system
  10. Incorporated curved stair, which adds sense of “wow”; opening follows curve of stair to create an elegant focal point
  11. David-note there is a premium to be paid for a curved stair, this may be an area to look at for alternates
  12. Shawn-counter under stairs will prevent people from knocking their heads into the stairs
  13. Charles-possible issue-first 3-4 tables at entrance to dining will probably be moved, simply put placeholder for 3-4 tables in L shape on floor, they will most likely use the area for vendors of some type, i.e. t-shirts, bake sale, etc.
  14. Note-Build up columns with table top cantilevering and put chairs around
  15. Servery discussions:

1.  Talk of possibly flip flopping the Green Bean (to the right) and main coffeeshop (to the left), will have another coffee shop in cabin, (will be something along the lines of Dunkin’ Donuts Express facing the hallway) this will help shrink the other coffee shop to make room for dish machine in dish room, also shrink deep drop off for garbage to help make more room for dish machine.

2.  Coffeshops were switched to help make room for dish machine, was originally on 3rd, now with changes there is no room. Intermezzo may move to cabin area. This move will vitalize whole space during day. Limit what machines are used to reduce noise.

3.  Need reason for people to go to cabin, coffee not enough, donuts and specialty drinks would be more of a go, still have to investigate this, idea is still in “what if” stage.

4.  Mike/Tim afraid of losing “cool performance space” feel of cabin; be very careful not to turn cabin into a coffeehouse.

5.  Dishroom was ignored for a long period of time as the idea was that they would be going dishless-now realized that everything doesn’t fit and have the flexibility needed. When really going over the kitchen spaces there were many items that needed to be fit in. Charles’ staff has identified the equipment that can be reused, Porter Khouw is redoing the budget with the new equipment and equipment that is being moved over-the next reiteration of the budget will have much better information.

6.  Counter were designed with a single point of connection, per Rick, this hasn’t worked in the past, he asked Porter Khouw to come back with different design options for this.

7.  Cereal World space eliminated; cereal sold will be prepackaged

8.  Pizza area eliminated

9.  Sandwich and salad bar rotated

10.  Desert bar eliminated

11.  Carvery was eliminated due to no interest

12.  Make more behind counter space

13.  Significant concern with how wide openings are, Porter Khouw looking at turnstiles; current Marketplace has a tremendous amount of loss, turnstiles should help minimize this.

14.  New Marketplace over twice the size of current marketplace; note per Christian from Sodexo, due to size of kitchen labor cost will increase 38%. Rick notes-can’t have labor costs increase by this much.

15.  A la carte in new space is a labor intensive operation; will this new space be enough of a draw that sales will offset the increased costs?

  1. Shawn-Lounge entryway, Delaney, toilet rooms stayed the same.
  2. Added per DSF a larger chase that a person can fit in
  3. 1st level (and 2nd) – café height seating in corridor, due to amount of traffic and width of corridors, best to keep the level of seating high, remove soft seating (where people are walking by, wouldn’t want to be sitting low). Where the corridors are wider, soft seating will work better. Per Dr. Hellwig-they really liked the soft seating and living room/lounge type spaces in the corridors at St. Kates.
  4. Added a dressing room, carved out of the cabin storage, for pre-performance people can hang out.
  5. Bar is now smaller and has a curve, design still in flux as they work with Albin
  6. Cabin – has storage area behind the stairs, under landing.
  7. Cabin drawings show columns in the cabin, don’t know at this point if the columns will be there, needs to be coordinated with structural engineer.
  8. Beer-now set up to have bottles of beer, a tap is expensive, sell such a little amount of beer and is such a big cost per Charles, tap is not justified at this time.
  9. Mike and Tim –the new cabin space will be a draw in sales, can make the space and connections for at least 1 kegerator, can increase if the sales go up.

5.  1st floor electric yard

  1. 2 ways in and out and access door
  2. Fenced in area with dumpsters
  3. Distance clear is approximately 42’
  4. North, west and south are solid walls with open top
  5. Will hold primary generator, switchgear, transformers and emergency generator
  6. Height of walls is 12’ tall, not easily accessible
  7. Where is refrigerator pack for walk in coolers?
  8. On the roof now
  9. Per Porter Khouw – the vertical distance won’t work on the roof
  10. Size is approximately 12’ x 5’ x 4’
  11. Exterior north/south wall, curvilinear wall can increase if needed for additional items in the electric yard
  12. Loading dock completely covered with solid CMU
  13. Trucks will completely pull inside the dock
  14. Fans inside
  15. How will the noise affect the area by the tree?
  16. Steam, condensate return, chilled water and geothermal pipes coming in to the right of steps on South
  17. Utility engineering functions should have direct access to whatever area/room

6.  GEOTHERMAL/SUSTAINABILITY