Mecha House Updates

May 24, 2024 — Argyle Wade emails the following FP&M updates to Mecha representatives:  

• Basement shoring at 209 Brooks Street has been completed.  
• Electrical service installation at 206 Bernard Court has been completed.  Once inspections have been completed, porch demolition will commence.    
• 210 Bernard Court porch demolition will align with 206 and be shared with users prior to starting removal operations.    
• Demolition of the all buildings as part of the project except 923 Clymer have been completed.  
• Installation of the temporary electrical service via overhead lines on the south side of Clymer.  Temporary service interruption cause by MG&E was outside of the project control, and we will work with them to provide as much notice in the future as possible.    
• Ongoing soil retention pile installation is anticipated through May and into June.
• Foundation installation to begin the week of May 19.     
• New Project Manager Casey Alton Ward has been assigned to this project [replacing Scott Utter] and will be providing updates moving forward.

May 6, 2024 — Mecha de UW–Madison is placed on interim suspension for alleged activities in violation of the code of conduct for registered student organizations. During the period of the interim suspension, use of university-owned office space is prohibited.

April 17, 2024 — Student Affairs’ Argyle Wade and FP&M’s Scott Utter provide the following updates to Mecha representatives —

• Demolition is in progress for two houses south of Clymer Place and both residence halls;
• Future anticipated work — electrical work; demolition of the overhead utility line that connects to the house at the end of April (moving it to back of the house due to porch demolition); porch removal will be May 1–3; foundation shoring up in basement April 24–26; new entrance and porch.

• Mecha is asked to let staff know if they are available to meet in May and if they want to schedule check-ins over the summer. 

March 22, 2024 — Student Affairs’ Argyle Wade and FP&M’s Scott Utter provide the following updates to Mecha representatives — the fence is up around the site; signs have been installed to aid with pedestrian movement; starting demolition of impacted buildings this week; by Friday, starting to install fence around 206 and 210 Bernard Ct.; starting porch removal on both houses next week; issues with getting the utilities installed; Irving and Dorothy Levy Hall is scheduled to open in fall 2026. 

Questions/Issues from Mecha representatives:

• Given that demolition was supposed to happen a long time ago, are there trends of delays in earlier stages and then speeding up in the middle?

  Response: There have been some delays with getting city approval for street access and utilities. The contractors are still being held to the original timeline. It is typical for construction projects to make up ground later. We haven’t seen the full schedule from the contractor yet, so it is too early to tell if there will be delays.

• Resolved an issue where a mini fridge the university provided for Mecha use was delivered to the wrong room in the Red Gym.

Feb. 7, 2024 — At Mecha’s request, the first monthly meeting is held with Mecha de UW–Madison’s house campaign committee chair (or co-chair in their absence), Argyle Wade, and FP&M’s project manager for Irving and Dorothy Levy Hall construction to discuss the project’s status and anticipated timeline. New Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Fernie Rodriguez and staff from the Multicultural Student Center also attend.  

Summary of discussion (emailed by Wade to ISCC reps following the meeting): 

• Contractors will be in the house this month to do stabilization work in the basement. 
• The house’s front porch will likely be removed in the 3rd or 4th week of February.  
• The contractor has not provided a full-duration estimate for the project. That should be clearer by next month’s meeting. 
• Once the repairs are completed, we will walk the site together. 
• We agreed to meet monthly and find times in between as needed.  

Dec. 15, 2023 — Argyle Wade notifies Mecha that Facilities Planning and Management (FP&M) recently changed the locks of the Mecha house as a safety precaution during construction. Students are asked to contact the Multicultural Student Center staff to coordinate access to the house if needed during construction. 

Nov. 27–29, 2023 — External consultants contracted by Student Affairs conduct an onsite review and 40 staff and student listening sessions. They invite students to share their experiences and ideas for UW–Madison’s student programming and space. The “Spaces of Belonging” sessions are part of a larger effort exploring how campus spaces and programming are structured to support student belonging and success. Consultants tour the cultural centers and Mecha house with the Multicultural Student Center staff.  

Nov. 15, 2023 — Contractors move Mecha belongings to Red Gym 207 and to long-term storage.

Nov. 15, 2023 — As a follow-up to the Nov. 10 email, Student Affairs Executive Assistant Danielle Saunders emails the Mecha-designated representative with information about upcoming listening sessions for the cultural centers review. The message includes details on two Mecha listening sessions at Memorial Union. Students are invited to join another session if they cannot join the Mecha one.

Nov. 14, 2023 — As a follow-up to the Nov. 10 email, Student Affairs Chief of Staff Argyle Wade emails Mecha representatives with details on how to attend upcoming Campus Planning Committee meetings, scheduled for Nov. 16 and 30. Links to the agenda and additional details are also provided.

Nov. 10, 2023 — Representatives from Student Affairs and FP&M meet with Mecha to share that a possible project for the 900 block of Dayton Street, adjacent to Levy Hall and inclusive of the Mecha house, is being included in UW-Madison’s proposed 2025-2031 six-year capital development plan, with the possible parking facility slated for the 2029-2031 biennial capital budget request. 

The following message was sent to Mecha representatives as a follow-up to the meeting:

Dear Mecha students,  

Thank you for meeting with us to talk about possible future plans for the 900 block of Dayton Street. In addition to the attached Powerpoint deck, please find a short summary of our discussion below:  

• • UW-Madison is working on the 2025-2031 Six-Year Capital Development Plan, as well as the 2025-2027 biennial capital budget request.  Any potential project must be included in the long range/six-year plan, or it will not be considered in the current biennial budget request.  

• • UW-Madison has identified the area adjacent to Levy Hall as a potential future site for a parking structure to support campus parking and transportation needs. This proposed site would impact the Mecha house.  

• • This is a long-term plan, and while we have identified this location and identified the Dayton Street parking garage as a need in the 2029-31 biennial capital budget (six years from now), it does not guarantee that it will be approved or moved forward in that biennium.  Including it on the list means it is a future priority for campus that may be requested if and when we resolve the enabling requirements. We will continue to share information as the process moves forward and will continue to work with your organization on solutions if and when they may be needed. 

This information was requested in today’s meeting:

• • The Campus Planning Committee is the shared governance group that reviews and recommends how projects are prioritized to the Chancellor. The current ASM representative is Alex Lynn. We will send you information on how to attend their upcoming meetings on November 16 and 30. 

• • The consultant for the cultural centers review is Dr. Angela Batista. Next week Student Affairs will announce how students can participate in on-campus engagement sessions on Nov 27-29. We will forward you that information and hope you can participate. 

Thank you for the conversation today. If you would like to meet again, please let us know. 

Regards,

Cindy Tortsveit, Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Planning and Management
Argyle Wade, Chief of Staff for Student Affairs

Student Affairs Chief of Staff Argyle Wade notifies the ASM chair and vice chair, by email, of the proposed Dayton Street Parking ramp and impact on the Mecha House and reminded them that ASM has a student representative on the Campus Planning Committee.

Nov 8, 2023 — At the request of Mecha and working with the Blank Center for Campus History, University Communications photographs the murals in the Mecha House.

Oct. 16, 2023 — The move date for Mecha to the Red Gym is changed to Nov. 15, 2023.

Oct 15, 2023 — Mecha requests to extend move date past Nov. 2, 2023.

Oct. 12, 2023 — FP&M notifies Mecha that repairs to the house in preparation for Levy Hall construction will begin in January 2024.

Oct 9, 2023 — Mecha agrees by email to move to Red Gym 207 on Oct. 24, 2023.

Oct. 6, 2023 — Argyle Wade sends Mecha students an email that contains the summary notes, a list of items already in the Red Gym that are available to Mecha, and two possible relocation dates.

Oct. 5, 2023 — Student Affairs and FP&M meet at the Mecha house with Mecha representatives for a second site visit and to collect information so the contractor can prepare a moving estimate. Jesse Winters, FP&M Interim Space Management Director, sends those summary notes via email to the group.

Sept. 19, 2023 — Student Affairs, FP&M, and a moving contractor meet at the Mecha house with Mecha representatives to discuss move logistics and do a site visit so the contractor could provide an initial estimate and develop a project scope. The moving contractor delivers packing materials later that day.

Aug. 28, 2023 — Mecha selects Red Gym 207 as its temporary location.

Aug. 11 & 23, 2023 — Student Affairs and FP&M meet with Mecha representatives to continue discussions about alternative locations.

July 13, 2023 — Student Affairs and FP&M provide Mecha representatives a tour of the three available alternative locations: two spaces in the Red Gym and one in the Medical Sciences Complex.

June 26, 2023 — Student Affairs and FP&M meet with Mecha-designated representatives to share that they will need to move out of the house for at least the first year of the Levy Hall construction due to safety concerns of the condition of the building and its proximity to the construction site. Mecha is offered three alternative locations to consider. 

Student Affairs and FP&M clarify in the meeting that a return to the facility after the first year of construction would be based on three factors: 1) Mecha’s thoughts on moving based on the alternate Red Gym location they have been in; 2) evaluation of the construction’s impact on the Mecha house and the costs of any repairs; and 3) results of a cultural center review by an external consultant, which will include Mecha. 

May 26, 2023 — Student Affairs (AVC Gabe Javier and Chief of Staff Argyle Wade) share with a Mecha-designated representative that they are gathering more information on the building’s condition and anticipate having a better understanding in June. Student Affairs addresses the topic of alternative spaces if Mecha needs to move out during construction and clarifies that alternative space would likely be smaller based on what is available. Upon Student Affairs’ request, Mecha provides contact information for representatives during the summer months so that they can maintain communications.

May 1, 2023 — Representatives from Student Affairs and FP&M meet with Mecha students to share the results of a structural assessment of the house that was conducted in spring. Areas of concern include the front porch and balcony. FP&M indicates the areas of concern identified in the report would be repaired and informs Mecha about the potential need to relocate temporarily during the first phase of the Irving and Dorothy Levy Hall construction (at that time, planned to begin in November); further study is needed to determine the full impact of construction on the Mecha house.

April 16, 2023 — AVC Gabe Javier emails Mecha workers an update that the structural assessment was recently received and is being reviewed. Requests time to meet.

April 11, 2023 — Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Gabe Javier emails Mecha workers to notify them that the second-floor balcony is not able to be used and the door leading to it will be locked with a sign indicating it is closed. Message requests a spring semester meeting with Mecha workers to provide an update.

March 16, 2023 — Irving and Dorothy Levy Hall planning team assess the internal and external Mecha building structure to determine considerations the general contractor may need to include before or during the nearby construction.

March 7, 2023 — Mecha Workers Meeting at Multicultural Student Center

• Agenda: Welcome and introductions; clarifying construction and potential impact on the house (Irving and Dorothy Levy building, space assessments, block 16 map); cultural centers review study; lines of communication; questions
• Invited: Mecha workers; Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Lori Reesor, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Gabe Javier, Associate Vice Chancellor for FP&M Cindy Torsveit, Interim Director for Campus Planning & Landscape Architecture Aaron Williams

Jan. 31, 2023 — Update: Mecha House
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Lori Reesor emails update to student workers of Mecha (Mecha workers).

Dec. 7, 2022 — Indigenous Student Center & Mecha House Town Hall Follow-up
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Lori Reesor emails follow-up message to those who registered to attend the virtual town hall on Nov. 30, 2022.

Nov. 30, 2022 — Indigenous Student Center & Mecha House Community Town Hall
Virtual town hall hosted by Multicultural Student Center (MSC) to share updates on the ISC and Mecha.

Fall/Spring 2021–22 — Student Affairs and FP&M meet with student workers of Mecha to communicate the timeline of Irving and Dorothy Levy Hall construction beginning in fall 2023. They confirm that construction of the new building will not require relocation of the Mecha house but discuss moving tenants in summer 2023 to prevent disruptions of construction-related noise and dust and in anticipation of potential future construction projects on block 16. Student Affairs requests a space study in the Red Gym.

October 2021 — The MSC hires inaugural Indigenous Student Center Coordinator Bobbi Skenandore. In this role, she is the building manager for 206 Bernard Ct. and provides facility support for Mecha.

September 2021 — Student Affairs assumes responsibility and oversight for the AISCC to align with work and support of other cultural student organizations. MSC maintains responsibility for the house, similar to other cultural centers located in the Red Gym.