State Building Commission approves Rodli Hall renovation

May 18, 2017--The planned renovation of David Rodli Hall at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls has been given a green light. The Wisconsin State Building Commission and University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents have approved construction, which will create a student collaboration center on campus when completed. 

Rodli Hall, which was built in the 1960s and originally served as a dining hall, currently houses academic classrooms and serves as a storage facility. New plans call for Rodli to house 14 departments that are currently spread across multiple buildings on campus. Occupants will be mostly student-related service and scholarship offices and will include Career Services, Student Health and Counseling, the Writing Center, International Student Services, McNair Scholars, and the office of Undergraduate Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity.  

Dale Braun, campus planner at UW-River Falls, described the planned space as student centered.  

“The Rodli Hall Renovation project creates a student collaboration center on campus. It provides convenient access for students to essential student services as well as provides necessary academic support in an open and engaging environment. Once finished, 14 departments from six different buildings will be housed in totally remodeled space, custom designed to meet contemporary and future student needs,” said Braun.

“The renovation of Rodli Hall will transform our ability to provide student services and engagement opportunities such as undergraduate research and international education,” added Chancellor Dean Van Galen. “We are grateful for the support of the State of Wisconsin and our students, who are supporting a portion of the project through a student fee. When complete in 2019, this renovation of existing space will greatly benefit future UW-River Falls students.”  

The project is being designed by Somerville, Inc. of Green Bay. 

For more information, call Braun at 715-425-3840.