Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is planning to renovate Boebel Hall, which was built in 1977. Upon completion, it will look much the same on the outside as it does now, but the inside will be completely different. There are two construction phases included in the project. Phase I of the construction project is set to begin during the fall 2009 semester. It includes half of the first floor and much of the space will be converted from multi-purpose classrooms to labs. Eventually, zoology, biology and ecology will all have labs on the first floor.

With a cost of $2.2 million, Phase I is expected to take approximately one year. According to Doug Stephens, UWP campus planner for administrative services, there was a plan to renovate Boebel Hall, but the effort was made easier when the Engineering Hall project and the Ullsvik Hall renovations came in under budget.

"These changes will be a very good thing for the classes, students and the department," said Kris Wright, UWP associate professor of biology. "It will have a definite positive impact." Wright also said that although it may be difficult to deal with the construction at first, it will be well worth it once it is finished and he looks forward to teaching in the new lab space.

The current labs in Boebel Hall do not have enough capacity for the growing student population and the changing teaching pedagogy. A more modern teaching and learning environment is needed for the hands-on learning approach that instructors are using.

Jeff Huebschman, associate professor for the UWP Biology Department and current department chair, is excited at the prospect of enlarging the biology program with these renovations.

"The renovations will greatly benefit our program and provide immediate improvements in regards to better lab facilities, decreased crowding and overall improvement of the instructional and learning environments," said Huebschman. "The more modern facilities will allow us to continue to attract and serve the region's students."

Huebschman also states that the updated lab facilities and high-tech classrooms will allow increased student access to course materials outside of designated class time. The newer facilities will also allow UWP professors to better meet the needs of students participating in undergraduate research projects.

"These research projects are among the most educationally significant activities our students engage in as biology majors," said Huebschman. "These new labs will give the students a better learning environment as they gain this valuable research experience."

The start date for Phase II will be determined as Phase I nears completion. Phase II will cover much more square footage and is expected to cost approximately $15 million. It includes renovating the remaining half of the first floor, the basement and all of the second and third floors. Originally intended only for storage, the Boebel Hall basement has very tall ceilings and will be renovated as space for the geology and biology departments. The second floor will house space for geology, geography, biogeography, geomorphology and GIS locating and mapping. Designated space and facilities for courses in anatomy and physiology, microbiology, genetics, cell and molecular biology and botany will be located on the third floor.

For more information, contact Stephens at (608) 342-1147 or stephens@uwplatt.edu.