PHOTO: Courtesy of WLUK
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — As graduation gets underway at UW-Oshkosh, so does work on a number of summer projects. Among them — burying long-standing exposed pipes along a main stretch of campus and demolishing three dorms that are no longer being used.
“This is all about improving our infrastructure and readying it for the future Polk Library project,” said Director of Planning and Construction Chadwick Shaw.
The pipes have been above ground in the central mall area of campus for 5 years. Officials said it was never meant to last that long, but they’re glad the work is finally being done to bury them.
“It’s a real pain. and it’s been a pain, and it’s terrible that it’s taken this long,” Shaw said. “But the great news is that we’re finally moving forward and we’re going to get these pipes back underground and it’s going to be something that serves this campus for the next 50 years.”
The pipes were originally installed as an emergency precaution because of a steam break, but faced a design delay.
While the university installs the pipes, it’s also tearing down 3 dorms. Webster, Donner, and Radford residence halls have seen minimal use as enrollment declines.
“Getting rid of these buildings that are a maintenance heavy investment,” Shaw said. “Poor utilities, needing a significant renovation cost, allows us to save on utilities and then start planning for that next 10, 15, 20 years.”
Shaw said the empty spaces left by the 3 dorms will remain as green spaces until the university decides what to use them for.
“Whether that’s a new science building, new residence hall, who knows what will come of that. But we will have that space available for whatever future development is needed,” he said.
The University expects work on the Polk Library renovation to begin around this time next year.
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