S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 013
MARQUETTE New life for the historic core By Lynn Sheka
During the past decade, Marquette has built six new buildings that have transformed the campus landscape. Now it’s time to pay tribute to the history of the university by renovating its three original buildings — Johnston Hall, Marquette Hall and Sensenbrenner Hall — the “historic core” of campus. Coughlin Hall will also undergo moderate interior renovations as part of the historic core project. Four humanities departments and the main office of the Helen Way Klingler College of Arts and Sciences will move into renovated spaces. “It’s very symbolic that we’re placing the core of a Jesuit education, the humanities, in the historic core of Marquette,” says Charlie Haas, project architect in the Office of the University Architect. “We’re breathing new life into these spaces and activating the three original buildings on campus to bring them into the 21st century for today’s students.” Renovations to Sensenbrenner Hall began this summer with the demolition of the former Legal Research Library to make way for a new addition that will house an elevator, stairs and an upgraded HVAC for the nearly century-old building, which was originally designed to fit in with the mansions that lined Wisconsin Avenue in the early 20th century. It will feature an open atrium space for faculty and students to collaborate together. Sensenbrenner’s interior is also being updated to make way for the main office of the College of Arts and Sciences, the college’s Advising Center and the Department of History to move in during spring 2014. The original third floor mezzanine level is being restored and will house history graduate students and teaching assistants. Interior renovations at Marquette Hall are underway to update the space for the departments of English, theology and philosophy. The three departments will share a main office space on the first floor while floors two, three and four will feature faculty offices and open spaces for meetings and conversation. Johnston Hall will remain the home of the J. William and Mary Diederich College of Communication, and will undergo infrastructure and technology upgrades during summer 2014. Work is currently being done to reinforce stairwells, with the renovations next summer aimed at providing a technology backbone to support the increased bandwidth required for teaching new media trends and maintaining the college’s television, radio and newspaper operations.
During the 2012–13 academic year, Haas spearheaded an inclusive design process that involved faculty, staff and students who would be occupying the renovated spaces. Design teams from each department gathered feedback from their colleagues and met with the Office of the University Architect several times throughout the year to share their feedback. The process ultimately resulted in more collaborative spaces, floor-to-ceiling built-in bookshelves in many of the new faculty offices, and designated videoconferencing rooms for departments that
academic support,” says Anne Deahl, associate vice provost for academic support programs and retention. “We’ll be able to work together to give students a comprehensive academic support plan and the tools they need to graduate and excel.” Haas and his team are attempting to achieve LEED® certification from the United States Green Building Council for the renovations at Johnston Hall, Marquette Hall and Sensenbrenner Hall. “These buildings are the front door to our campus,” Haas says. “They’re the first buildings people see when they drive up Wisconsin Avenue, and we want to make sure they show our history while serving as dynamic, functional, and collaborative learning and research spaces for years to come.”
Rendering of the Sensenbrenner Hall addition.
conduct initial interviews and dissertation reviews via Skype. “The design and technology in the new learning spaces will allow faculty to develop innovative pedagogies, making it possible to easily connect students here at Marquette with students, teachers and scholars around the world,” says Dr. James South, professor of philosophy, who served as a design team leader. Coughlin Hall’s interior will transition from faculty offices to an open design that will centralize campus-wide student support services and programs into a student success center. Scheduled to open in fall 2014, the center will include Student Educational Services — tutoring, academic skills support, Urban Scholars, the Office of Disability Services and Marq Your Path — as well as the Educational Opportunity Program and the Freshman Frontier Program. “Centralizing our student support services and programs in one area will enable us to provide a one-stop-shop for any student looking for
Historic core project timeline u
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March 2014: College of Arts and Sciences main office and Advising Center move to Sensenbrenner Hall Late May 2014: Department of History moves to Sensenbrenner Hall Late May 2014: Department of English and Department of Theology move to Marquette Hall Late May 2014: Renovations to Coughlin Hall begin August 2014: Educational Opportunity Program and Office of Disability Services move to Coughlin Hall January 2015: Department of Philosophy moves to Marquette Hall Spring 2015: Student Educational Services moves to Coughlin Hall
CAM PU S H A P P E N I N GS New department chairs named for 2013–14
Take advantage of Employee Wellness Program
Six faculty members have been named department chairs for 2013–14: Dr. K. Dale Noel, biological sciences; Rev. John Jones, physics interim chair; Dr. Jane Peterson, social and cultural sciences; Dr. Joseph Daniels, economics; Dr. Steven Lysonski, marketing; and Dr. Lynn Turner, communication studies.
The Employee Wellness Program offers a variety of classes and access to wellness materials to help improve employees’ overall well-being, such as a healthy cooking series, stress management courses, CPR certification and fitness classes. To view upcoming events visit: marquette.edu/wellness/employees/.