Marquette will begin demolition work on McCormick Hall this May, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Joel Pogodzinski announced today. The move comes in the wake of a thorough assessment that made clear the building is past its useful life. Demolition of McCormick Hall is part of the university’s Campus Master Plan, which integrates academic, physical and financial priorities and serves as a road map for Marquette’s capital projects during the next 10 to 20 years.
“The deferred and continued maintenance costs to keep McCormick online are no longer economically prudent for the university,” Pogodzinski said. “Consistent with the Campus Master Plan, we have identified a plan to demolish McCormick in a way that makes sound financial sense.”
According to Lora Strigens, vice president for planning and facilities management, the current construction boom in Milwaukee has made the costs for demolition work more favorable than in recent years.
“With so many other demolition projects happening in Milwaukee right now, such as the Bradley Center, we are in a favorable bidding climate for demolition work,” she said. “Demolition firms are able to synergize their debris removal efforts across multiple projects, which makes this summer the most financially sound timing for demolition.”
Interior abatement work will begin in the coming weeks. The university is developing a plan to provide space for student organizations that had been using the lower level of McCormick.
During Commencement Weekend in mid-May, University Advancement will hold an event to celebrate the legacy of McCormick Hall. Following that event, demolition work will commence in mid- to late-May — at that time, the site will be fenced off. The work is expected to be complete by November 2019, Strigens said.
The site will then be graded and turned into green space, until a new capital project for the site is identified and approved by the Board of Trustees.
“The Campus Master Plan has always called for the demolition of McCormick Hall, so we have an excellent blueprint to expedite this project,” Strigens said. “The flexibility of our Campus Master Plan affords us the opportunity to continue exploring various options for this highly visible and well-trafficked area in the heart of our campus.”
Watch Marquette Today for updates on the farewell event for McCormick Hall.