AUGUST 13, 2009

IN THIS ISSUE

1. Marquette begins site preparation for new engineering facility

Marquette University has begun site preparation for its planned College of Engineering facility, which will be known as the Discovery Learning Complex. The site preparation includes soil test borings and internal demolition work on vacated apartment buildings owned by the university on the site.

The proposed $100 million facility will be located on the south side of Wisconsin Avenue between 16th and 17th Streets. Currently there are several university-owned apartments and a parking lot on the property. The buildings will be razed to prepare for construction.

In accordance with university policies governing new buildings, the Marquette Board of Trustees must approve the building project and design. Marquette President Robert A. Wild, S.J., said he hopes to present preliminary designs and costing figures at the board’s September meeting.

“Site preparation is just the first step as we continue to work to meet the demands of our new engineering curriculum for new laboratory and classroom space,” he said. “While we are committed to the full project, we are looking at the possibility of a phased approach to the building in order to begin construction as soon as possible.”

Opus Dean of Engineering Stan Jaskolski said he was thrilled to see the site preparation process begin. “We want to be ready for board approval and move the project forward as expeditiously as possible,” he said. “The alumni and community response to the new building and to our vision of engineering education and its importance to our region’s economic development has been fantastic. We still have a ways to go, but we will finish a first-class, start-of-the-art facility.”

University Architect Tom Ganey said work in the next few weeks and months will focus on interior demolition of the buildings on the engineering site, as the university tries to recycle as many materials as possible. He said when the 1212 Building on the corner of 12th and Wisconsin was demolished last year, 90 percent of the materials were recycled. That is the site of Zilber Hall, the new student services/administration building currently under construction, which should be ready for occupancy by January 2010.

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2. Soccer teams holding free Fan Fest on Sunday

Marquette men's and women's soccer teams will kick off the 2009 season with the third annual Fan Fest on Sunday, Aug. 16, at Valley Fields. This free event will feature interactive skill stations, player autographs and photo opportunities, and food courtesy of Qdoba. Gates open at 2:30 p.m.

Both teams will participate in intra-squad scrimmages, with the women's soccer scrimmage beginning at 3 p.m., followed by the men's at 5 p.m.

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3. Best Buddies receives Outstanding Chapter Award

Marquette’s Best Buddies chapter was recently recognized with an Outstanding Chapter Award at Best Buddies International’s 20th Annual Best Buddies Leadership Conference. Marquette’s chapter was one of nine college chapters from more than 400 college programs throughout the world recognized for its dedication to the Best Buddies mission.

Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

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