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| A worker removes seats from the BOC auditorium ahead of its proposed repurposing. (Catholic Herald photo/Pam Payne) |
MADISON — While not officially a done deal yet, the redevelopment plans for the Bishop O’Connor Center (BOC) in Madison are inching closer to reality.
This month, many items, including furniture and other items from the BOC, were given away to parishes, schools, and other organizations in the diocesan area.
Groups including the Catholic Multicultural Center, Camp Gray, and Port St. Vincent de Paul men’s shelter were able to make use of the dozens of beds that were offered.
Schools and organizations such as St. Ambrose Academy in Madison, the Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program, and the House of Mercy homeless shelter in Janesville also were able to make use of various items.
The BOC’s more than 200 auditorium seats are still available and the diocese is hoping they will be taken as a whole set.
Anyone interested in the items can contact Eric Schiedermayer at [email protected]
Proposed project
Work on a proposed multi-million dollar project to turn the center into housing and other uses is tentatively set to start next month.
Last June, it was announced the diocesan offices, along with other offices such as Catholic Charities, Relevant Radio, and the Catholic Herald, would stay at the BOC, along with a housing community being developed there.
An earlier plan had the offices moving to another building while the BOC would entirely be turned into housing.
A number of diocesan offices will be moved to the southeast part of the building, while Catholic Charities will be bringing in 40 employees to add to its current offices at the BOC.
Changes to the building
As of November 1, 2014, the Bishop O’Connor Center no longer serves as a retreat and conference center.
The center had 13 meeting rooms, a 480-seat auditorium, and a dining room that seated up to 370 guests.
There were also more than 100 “dorm” rooms where retreatants, convention attendees, and diocesan seminarians would stay during various times of the year.
There were also a gymnasium, recreation room, and outdoor athletic fields.
The current Bishop O’Connor Center building opened in 1964 as Holy Name Seminary.
Holy Name closed in 1995 and the building was renovated into the offices and retreat and convention center in the late 1990s.
The University of Wisconsin Badgers football team also held its pre-season training camp on the BOC grounds.
Redevelopment plan
In 2013, the Diocese of Madison announced an agreement with Gorman & Company to study the redevelopment of the BOC in order to make better use of the property, provide for capital improvements, and continue to provide for the important ministries of the diocese.
The current plan is a mixed-use development comprised of approximately 54 multi-family residential apartment units, continuation of the current diocesan offices and chapel on site, including Catholic Charities and other affiliated organizations, as well as maintenance of the grounds.