MATC Matters

Dear Faculty and Staff:

In follow-up to last week’s president’s message, I thought this would be a good opportunity to share information with you on the lease of the Famous Footwear building on Madison’s West Side. We’re nearing the completion of the Facilities Master Plan, which recommends a presence on the west side of our district. And, we have long sought a better physical environment for our Protective Services programs. 

Lease Background
On January 27, 2009, the WTCS Board approved a 7-year lease of 54,883 square feet of space in the former Famous Footwear headquarters building at the corner of Mineral Point Road and Gammon Road. We will occupy approximately one-half of the building and we’re now in the process of securing a design/construction team.

Surge Space
The immediate use of the facility will be to house the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Criminal Justice programs. They will remain in this “surge� location until such time as the Facilities Master Plan is adopted and the facility for their program is completed. Although this does not provide the much needed permanent room for the program staff and students, it will provide a more than adequate interim home. MATC’s Criminal Justice and EMS programs are currently located at the Commercial Avenue Center in Buildings A and B. The location does not provide an adequate amount of space for these programs, and the space it does provide is antiquated and does not meet the needs of the program. Currently, the EMS programs are forced to use space in a spare garage in Building B to conduct the majority of their practical training.

Future Needs
The facility changes that we will be making at the west side location are with an eye on flexibility, as the space will be used as “surge� space for unknown future needs. Demographic analysis has shown that there is a dramatic difference in the number of individuals MATC serves when comparing those living east of the Isthmus to those who are living west of the Isthmus. Leasing this location provides an opportunity that will allow us to continue to explore the need for a facility on the far West/Southwest side and determine what programs are needed to serve this portion of the district. With the Criminal Justice and EMS programs moving from the Commercial Avenue Center, we have yet another opportunity to address other programs’ concerns and needs. The “surge� of the programs allow us to continue with our plans to renovate and update Building A at the Commercial Avenue Center to house the trades and construction programs.

Timeline
Many are asking what the timeline is for the west side building. We hope to have the construction team in place by March 1, with construction beginning no later than April 1 and occupancy by August 1, 2009. There are many people that have had a hand in making this a reality. Let me just share that without the support of our District Board, President Bettsey Barhorst, and the effort and cooperation of several people from throughout the College, in particular Mike Stark the Director of Facility Services, we would never have gotten this far in this short amount of time. Thank you.

Roger Price
Vice President, Infrastructure Services