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Marketing and University Communication UW-Green Bay, CL 815 2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311-7001 (920) 465-2626 E-mail: hildebrs@uwgb.edu Last update: 9/27/07 |
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In
the News Archive - Year:
July 1, 2004 UWGB moves on downtown classroom School secures Washington Commons lease By Elaine Kauh
UWGB, the state Department of Administration and Development Associates, owner of the downtown mall, have finalized a five-year lease agreement for 2,600 square feet on the first level of Washington Commons, near the Washington Street entrance.
Jan Thornton, UWGB director of Outreach and Extension, said the programs and the downtown location would make university programs more accessible to the community.
"We're hoping we can attract new audiences from the downtown area," she said. "This is centrally located, and it's very easy parking."
The learning center has the potential to expand in the future as more people live and work downtown, she said. "We do hope this is just the beginning."
The center's plans include a classroom that can hold up to 50 people, a conference room, office, reception area and storage space. UWGB will have outside signs on the building.
Rent for the learning center will be $10 per square foot per year, or $25,590 annually, according to UWGB.
Construction is scheduled to begin next week.
About 400 hours of programs have been scheduled for the center, and the first will begin in mid-August.
They include UWGB's Leadership Development Institute for businesses and organizations and a new certificate program for emergency management, planning and administration.
The location emphasizes the university's mission of "connecting learning to life," Chancellor Bruce Shepard said in Wednesday's lease-signing announcement. "We want to be Green Bay's University of Wisconsin," he said. "A presence downtown will give the community even a greater sense of ownership of its university."
Shepard, Thornton and the university have supported the concept from the beginning, said Russell De Mille, managing member of Development Associates. He had approached the school about coming downtown, because it fits the mall's plans to redevelop into a multiuse facility.
He also hopes that the learning center will expand — the lease includes right of first refusal on adjacent space.
"It's another reason to bring people downtown for a positive purpose," De Mille said.
UWGB is expected to bring evening traffic to the food court and shops and could attract new businesses, such as a restaurant catering, to students, he said.
The learning center's space had been best known as the former Mr. Bulky Treats and Gifts, which closed more than four years ago. It also was leased to a local gift shop for a short period, but has been vacant for about three years.
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