4 minute read
Unearthed From the Archives
By James Hibbard, University Archivist
May House to the Markee
Mention the Markee Pioneer Student Center and two words come to mind: tradition and inspiration. Tradition can be heard when the old Normal School Bell rings on the hour; inspiration is represented in the design of the building, inspiring students to achieve their educational opportunities. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Markee Pioneer Student Center, making it a good time to review the history of the university’s student centers.
The first student center was a house purchased from Hugh and Ann May. Called the May House, this student center opened on June 3, 1936. Located at the corner of Main and Hickory, it contained a reception room, fireplace room, and several study rooms. It was used exclusively by female students until 1953.
Student Center
The impending merger of the Platteville Teachers College and the Wisconsin Institute of Technology in 1959 created the need for a larger student center. In 1957, the May House was relocated to make room for a new student center on the same site. After two years of construction, the new student center was dedicated on April 30, 1959. It held the distinction of be-
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1 Pictured here in the 1970s, the Student Center’s cafeteria was a popular gathering spot.
2 Events were often held on the Student Center’s ice-skating rink, which was located in what is presently the Harry and Laura Nohr Gallery.
3 One of the Markee Pioneer Student Center’s most popular traditions is the Late Night at the Markee—an annual celebration to close out the year.
ing the first modern student center opened at a Wisconsin State College.
The Student Center quickly became a gathering point on campus. As one student recalled, “Following each class session, the main flow of traffic moves towards the Student Center,” where students could relax in the Rendezvous Room, affectionately called the “Vous,” play pool, or shuffleboard. The student center also held multiple events, such as the Madrigal Dinner in December, the Crystal Caprice in February, and ice skating events on the Student Center’s rink—today’s Nohr Gallery in Ullsvik Hall.
Markee Pioneer Student Center
A new century brought the need for a new student center. On April 1, 2002, the Markee Pioneer Student Center opened. To make it more convenient for students, the new student center, affectionately called “the Markee,” was constructed closer to the center of campus. The Markee, like the previous student center, has a student-services focus. It contains meeting rooms, dining services, a campus bookstore, the Bears Den computer lab, and other services students use on a regular basis.
The Markee, moreover, contains two very symbolic, cultural items, both located in Heritage Hall. The first is the international flags. They represent the many countries our students call home. The second is the Peace Pole. Dedicated when the Markee opened, it contains the sentence “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in 12 languages. It was dedicated in the memory of the victims of the 9-11 tragedy.
In designing the Markee, two specific themes were emphasized: tradition and inspiration. Tradition is visible in the sepia-toned Heritage Hall wall mural, which highlights several historic UW-Platteville buildings and symbols. Adjacent to Heritage Hall is the Alumni Lounge and the UW-Platteville Alumni Wall of Fame. Hanging on the outside wall of the Alumni Lounge is the Normal School Bell, which represents the university’s educational background. Cast in Troy, New York, in 1870, the bell has a unique history. It announced classes for more than 100 years in both the old Normal School Building and Doudna Hall before being installed in the Markee.
Inspiration was built into the Markee’s design, which is subtle yet bold. This is best represented in the exposed support construction. Whether it is an entryway entablature, the bookstore’s visible ceiling HVAC system, or the Pioneer Crossing dining area’s load-bearing columns, the Markee’s support structure is visible. This was done to emphasize the university’s engineering background.
These two themes, tradition and inspiration, are united at the Markee’s Heritage Hall, which represents the crossroads of the university. It is here that the exposed structural supports are the most noticeable, from the towering two-story support columns to steel beams to glass-walled elevators to visible HVAC. This is complimented by the sepia-toned mural and large university seal on the south facing window that is lighted during Homecomings. The seal itself unites the university’s traditions of education and engineering: the Normal School’s bell and the Mining School’s M.
The Markee’s focus on tradition and inspiration sets it apart from other student centers. Both are emphasized in the openness of Heritage Hall’s two-story pavilion. Designed to inspire by creating an airy, contemplative space, Heritage Hall reminds students that they are part of something traditional yet inspires them to contribute to something greater than themselves.
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