Cullen carries union into modern era

Cullen crews are working through the winter to give the UW-Parkside student union a modern look. Photo courtesy of J.P. Cullen & Sons Inc.

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside is in the business of preparing young adults for the future.

But it’s hard for students to look forward when they eat and relax in a building stuck in the past. And when that old building is too small to adequately serve the booming student population, it’s time for action.

The university saw both of those problems with its student union, and it turned to architect Kahler Slater and general contractor J.P. Cullen & Sons Inc. to find a solution.

The construction team answered with a 53,000-square-foot addition and the remodeling of the 56,000-square-foot union. The project will be marked with windows that not only add an element of cheer to the dining area but also move the several decades-old building into the 21st century, said Shannon Metoxen, Cullen’s project manager.

But before the new went up, portions of the old had to come down.

“The current building is a unique structure in that it’s all concrete, down to the light fixtures,” Metoxen said. “You don’t see many buildings like that.

“This was all built at one time, so it was pretty important for us to understand how it was built so what we took down didn’t take down anything else. It was all concrete. It wasn’t anything that was going to come down quickly or easily.”

Adding to the difficulty is the union, with a student gathering area, theater, ballroom and dining room, must remain in service throughout the project.

Virtually no portion of the building will remain untouched.

The lower-level theater is being completely overhauled. Its 400 seats and carpet are being replaced, and the stage will benefit from new flooring.

The fast-forward button also is being pressed for the main-level kitchen and dining area. The existing “beigey-browny” flooring is being replaced with stained and patterned concrete, Metoxen said.

“It’s really going to liven that place up,” he said.

The wall of windows in the dining room should lighten the mood as well, and the new pizza ovens, kitchen appliances and countertops will make food service more efficient.

The upper level, a ballroom that can be partitioned off to create smaller meeting areas, is getting new flooring, a general makeover and wiring for data.

The project will stretch nearly two years, but it’s worth the effort, Metoxen said.

“When we walk away,” he said, “they will have a structure they can use to better the education of students for the next 40 to 50 years.”

— Jennifer Pfaff