Ellington

A panel discussing upcoming renovations to Mary Gates Hall convened yesterday to relay plans for the building’s new organization, which is designed to centralize student services.

The renovations are intended to provide a central location for student services. Panelists were representatives from the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity, the Office of Student Life, Undergraduate Academic Affairs, UW Information Technology and UW Libraries, all of which the renovation will affect,

“Because of the large size of the UW, decentralization of student services is a major barrier,” said a report by the Committee to Improve the UW Undergraduate Experience. “A lack of communication and collaboration among the offices and programs serving undergraduates inhibit students’ ability to successfully navigate the university.”

The panel said the changes, proposed in 2005, will create spaces with computers for students, locations for quiet, independent study, collaborative-work areas and access to printing.

The mission statement for the project says the renovations will “consider aesthetics and comfort when designing student spaces, and continue to involve students in all stages of the design process for new spaces.” These goals were identified by focus-group data and a survey completed by 3,250 students in fall 2009.

The proposal to move the computer lab from Mary Gates Hall has been a concern for some students, and the panel addressed a question about where students are supposed to do work after the change.

“We’re simply repurposing the workstations,” said Kelli Trosvig, interim vice president and vice provost of UW Information Technology. “The 186 workstations will be relocated elsewhere on campus.”

Some computers are set to be added to the research commons in the Allen Library and the Engineering Library.

CLUE and other academic-support services will still be available in Mary Gates.

The UW plans to move the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity from Schmitz Hall to Mary Gates Hall. This stems from the project’s goal of having student services in one location.

“These changes will accommodate the 21st-century student and make diversity the center of campus,” said Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

The panel said the project will cost about $4.5 million. The programming and schematic-design process began in March, and construction will occur in three phases.

UW Advising will be among the first units in Mary Gates Hall to undergo construction, starting as early as July. Workers will begin renovating the Center for Experiential Learning in December 2010 and First Year Programs will follow in May 2011. The panel expects the project to be completed by December 2011.

Reach reporter Colin Gorenstein at news@dailyuw.com.

*Correction: The caption in the photo identifies the woman on the right as Assistant Director of Advancement Jennifer Walters. She is actually Kelli Trosvig, Interim Vice President and Vice Provost of UW Information Technology.