A Draft Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) has been developed for the Elmwood Center remodeling and addition on the UW-Oshkosh campus. An Environmental Impact Assessment process is required by the University of Wisconsin System Administration guidelines in compliance with the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act, Section 1.11, Wis. Stats. The DEIA addresses the effects of the planned 11,000 gross square foot (GSF) addition to, and the remodeling of the existing 31,419 GSF Elmwood Center located at the corner of Elmwood and West Lincoln Avenues. The project includes the installation of a geothermal heat pump system beneath the adjacent Parking Lot #34 that will be connected to the Elmwood Center as a source of renewable energy.
This project provides for appropriate reuse of an existing vacant building. The expanded and updated Elmwood Center will enable UW-Oshkosh to fully consolidate Career Services, the Center for Academic Resources (CAR), the Undergraduate Advising Resource Center (UARC) and the Counseling Center, which are inefficiently scattered across campus. Office, counseling, conference/meeting, and support spaces will be created for each program as required. The Elmwood Center will also include a shared conference room/classroom, workroom space and tutoring areas. New mechanical systems and a sprinkler system will be installed while plumbing and electrical systems will be upgraded to meet code. The authorized budget for this project is $8,821,000 and will be funded from $8,464,000 General Fund Supported Borrowing and $357,000 Energy Incentive/Retrofit funding. Implementation is anticipated during Fall 2009 with substantial completion and occupancy targeted for Summer 2010.
The DEIA is available for public review at:
Oshkosh Public Library
106 Washington Avenue
Oshkosh, WI
Polk Library
801 Elmwood Avenue
Oshkosh, WI
UW System Office of Capital Planning and Budget
780 Regent Street, Suite 210
Madison, WI
Facilities Management Center
845 High Avenue
Oshkosh, WI
An electronic version of the DEIA is also available at the following website: https://titanfiles.uwosh.edu/xythoswfs/webui/_xy-391442_1-t_yXLNegoD.
A 15-day public comment period on the DEIA will begin April 1, 2009. Written comments on the DEIA must be received by April 15, 2009 and should be sent to:
Matthew Spiel, Project Consultant
HNTB Corporation
10 West Mifflin Street, Suite 300
Madison, WI 53703