Campus Connection

[caption id="attachment_287" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Centennial Hall, located at the heart of campus, is UW-L's new academic building"][/caption] Two new buildings will open on your old UW-La Crosse stomping grounds this fall: Centennial Hall, the new academic building, and Eagle Hall, a residence hall. Construction of the buildings is nearly complete, and they will be ready for move in by August, says Matt Lewis, executive director of facilities, planning and management. They’re huge, but also extremely efficient. The buildings have a sustainable design — built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver rating — complete with energy saving features such as numerous windows to let in natural light, rain gardens and a solar water heater. Alumni can schedule a tour of the new buildings during Family, Friends and Alumni weekend, Oct. 14-16. Call 877.895.2586 or email at alumni@uwlax.edu the Alumni Association to schedule a tour.

Centennial Hall fast facts:

• 189,000 square-feet
• First building on campus built predominantly with state funding since 1974
• Home to 44 classrooms and two auditoriums and department offices
• Departments to move into the new academic building include: Multicultural Student Services; Campus Climate and Diversity; Career Services; Academic Advising; Office of International Education; English as a Second Language Institute; Student Support Services; Counseling and Testing; Wisconsin Covenant; First Year Experience; Communication Studies; Philosophy; Environmental Studies; Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies.
• This building takes advantage of the sun, which will heat the building’s water and provide natural lighting to 90 percent of the inside spaces. At the top of the building are solar panels – part of the solar water heater. The system is designed heat all of the water used in the building on peak sun days.
• The academic building project cost $38 million, with $35 million paid for by the state and $3 million raised privately by the UW-L Foundation.

Eagle Hall fast facts:

• This 212,000-square-foot residence hall is the largest building on campus.
• The 500-bed hall will relieve UW-L’s housing crunch. Residence halls on campus have been crowded — especially the last two years with the demolition of two residence halls to make way for the new academic building.
• The building also houses The Office of Residence Life.
[caption id="attachment_301" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Eagle Hall, located on the former Coate Field on La Crosse Street, is a 500-bed residence hall."][/caption]
• The building will be broken down into about 18 “houses” or smaller living communities made up of anywhere from 26 to 30 students to provide a stronger sense of community. In each house, rooms surround a large community gathering area and breakfast nook with sink and microwave.
• A blend of returning students, freshmen and international students will live in the new residence hall.
• The building costs $39 million and will be funded by fees students pay to live in residence halls.