Campus beautification plan to give UWM a makeover
The new campus beautification
plan calls for a landscaped "impact zone" at the corner of Maryland
and Hartford avenues (above) and colorful plantings to complement the signage
at the four corners of the campus (below).
A campuswide beautification initiative that will unfold during the next 18 months is intended to transform and define UWM on the outside in the same way that Chancellor Carlos Santiago’s academic priorities are redesigning UWM’s research identity.
Colorful new plantings at all corners of the campus, a botanical focal point in front of the Business Administration Building, and a renewed effort to keep litter on campus to a minimum are a few of the improvements slated.
“We need to transform our campus so it reflects who we are and who we want to become,” says Sherwood Wilson, vice chancellor for administrative affairs.
The shape of the campus exterior “brands” UWM, says Wilson. Creating a new, fresh complexion will have an undeniable effect on how prospective students and the general public view us, he adds.
“Everything that concerns UWM can be enhanced simply by caring about the physical quality of our campus,” says Wilson. “Retention, self-esteem, attitude, contributions, public perception, quality of life – all of these things are impacted by the quality of experience one receives from our environment.”
To put this philosophy into motion, he has restructured parts of Physical Plant Services and the Office of Facilities Planning to form the Office of the University Architect, Planning, and Transportation (OUAPT), headed by Claude Schuttey. The change will give Schuttey broader oversight in maintaining the integrity of the physical campus.
Schuttey’s office is meeting with various campus groups to create a master plan that will infuse more color into campus, and even give one UWM parking lot an eco-friendly makeover.
Flowering bushes, perennials, and more annuals will be added around the signage at the four campus corners. After installing the signs several years ago, he says, the corners were never given a finished look.
“When a visitor comes, that’s the first thing they see,” says Schuttey. “It’s that first impact that we’re going for.”
The plan also calls for at least two other “impact zones,” with landscaping that will be as spectacular as the gardens fronting Chapman Hall and the Hefter Center. The areas include the “front doors” of the business building and the northeast corner of Maryland and Hartford avenues, between Chapman Hall and the Sandburg Residence Halls.
Schuttey’s office currently is exploring ways to brighten the perimeter of Downer Woods on the north side of Chapman Hall and create a gathering place on the west side. Another idea is to unite the two areas somehow, perhaps with a performance site.
As a final component of the master physical plan, Schuttey says he is coordinating efforts with James Wasley, associate professor of architecture, who is overhauling the Norris-Physical Plant parking lot (lot 18) to dramatically reduce stormwater runoff. Wasley is partnering with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) on the project, which will eventually serve as a laboratory for stormwater management research and education
What can we do?
Like dressing for success, pride in our appearance is the reason faculty, staff, and students should play a part in campus beautification. But what can one person do? Below are a few tips.- Be a role model by picking up litter. Physical
Plant employees are now picking up litter throughout the day rather than
once a day, says Wilson. But to make a lasting, noticeable difference in
the look of campus, students, faculty, and staff need to display pride by
participating.
“I have encouraged the executive officers to follow my lead and pick up litter themselves when they see it on campus, and to let students see them doing it,” Wilson says.
- Report vandalism or
physical damage to Physical Plant Services. If you spot a problem
that needs attention – from graffiti to overflowing trash receptacles – contact
Physical Plant Services and give the details. You can call 414-229-4742 or
email acnelson@uwm.edu.
- Make a suggestion. Whether you submit it as a Quick
Win or by e-mailing the Office of the University Architect, Planning, and
Transportation (OUAPT) directly, your ideas are welcome.
Quick Wins are suggestions that can be accomplished in a relatively short time, without great expense, and with a positive outcome. Contact Quick Wins by e-mailing quickwin@uwm.edu or filling out the form online at www.uwm.edu/MilwaukeeIdea/qwsubmit.htm. To contact OUAPT, e-mail dzs@uwm.edu or schuttey@uwm.edu.
URL: http://www.uwm.edu/News/Features/06.03/Beautification.html
Copyright 2006
by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, all rights reserved.
If you have questions or comments about this page, please send e-mail
to: gwc@uwm.edu
