When August hits so do back-to-school sales and the anticipation of a new school year. Thanks to Western Golf Association AG enjoys the back-to-school spirit at various times throughout the year, and year after year since the 1980s.
Through the Evans Scholars Foundation, Western Golf Association awards full tuition and housing scholarships to high-achieving caddies—those demonstrating a strong caddie record, excellent academics, financial need, and outstanding leadership and character.
Marquette University
AG Architecture’s relationship began with the organization in the 1980s when founding principal Gene Guszkowski worked on the original Marquette campus student housing building. The structure was designed and constructed to address a student housing trend in the Milwaukee area at the time—the conversion of historic mansions into student housing. With some of these mansions located near the Marquette campus, the design intent was to create a new housing product with the look and feel of these prominent structures. Developing the right scale and incorporating complementary forms, roof pitches, details, and materials achieved a design that respected the past while positioning the housing product to support the future of the organization and campus.
The residence hall features a variety of spaces designed for socializing, study, and recreation connected to two stories of residential suites. Designed to meet a tight construction budget, it features a hybrid construction technique with noncombustible flooring systems, wood frame partitions, and an all-masonry veneer.
In 2005, the project was revisited in order to adapt the building for co-ed housing. With women now eligible for the esteemed Evans Scholarship, a small addition was needed to accommodate bathing facilities. The mechanical systems were also upgraded at this time.
UW-Madison
In 2016, this long-term relationship led to the opportunity to help the Foundation provide better housing at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. The challenge was to create a new state-of-the-art housing solution with an architectural language compatible to the historic traditions of Langdon Street and the surrounding Greek Row.
The 28,000-square-foot Scholarship House occupies the same property as the previous Wisconsin Evans Scholarship House and features five levels of enhanced spaces for studying and recreation. In addition to creating a state-of-the-art living and learning environment, the project increased the potential capacity of the House to 90 Scholars.
The design carefully addresses the corner of Langdon and Henry Streets with an outdoor plaza that allows residents to partake in the area’s camaraderie and community activities. By analyzing the architecture on Langdon Street, the team reinterpreted patterns within the new building design and façade materials that contribute to the ongoing legacy of this location.
The masonry building includes a two-story lobby space with a lounge area on the first and third floors to support activity and camaraderie within. Each floor offers two-, three- and four-bedroom sleeping rooms with resident assistant accommodations. Large shower/bathroom areas were designed with flexibility in order to accommodate co-ed residents on each floor if desired. A single unisex shower/bathroom also supports an additional level of privacy and choice.
The lower level includes a study room, conference room, and a large multipurpose room that supports a variety of activities. Whether watching TV, playing pool, or hosting a blood drive, the flexible layout supports numerous functions.
The UW-Madison Scholarship House was part of an ongoing effort to expand the Evans Scholars Program from coast to coast and award more Evans Scholarships. AG continues to collaborate with the organization to enhance living and learning environments and support students in this noteworthy program. Stay tuned for more AG back-to-school highlights.
