Fewer Walls, More Bridges
Expanding the Union to the South
After World War II, enrollment at the university grew quickly. By the 1950s, the UW campus was expanding away from Memorial Union. A temporary cafeteria on Breese Terrace, located several blocks southwest of Memorial Union, had become so popular the need for a brand new union to serve the expanding student population became hard to ignore.
The building committee ultimately chose a site bound by Randall, Johnson, Orchard, and Dayton streets. Construction began in May of 1969 on the building designed by Weiler, Strang, and McMullin.
At its opening in spring of 1971, Union South was dedicated as a peace memorial under the theme, "Fewer Walls, More Bridges."
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Union South
ca. 1976 — Students on the lawn in front of Union South.
Image courtesy of the UW-Madison Archives, #tk09072842.
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Union South
1971 – Snow covers the ground outside the entrance to Union South.
Image courtesy of the UW-Madison Archives, #S15940.