From the ’60s to today, take a look at the history of Ogg Hall.
Chelsea Rademacher ’13
May 20, 2020
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Ogg Hall has been housing Badgers on the southeast side of
campus since 1965, and like other campus buildings of the ’60s (see Humanities),
it’s seen its fair share of controversy. For starters, the original Ogg was
built perhaps more quickly than strategically to accommodate a student body
that doubled between 1959 and 1965. The hall’s two-tower design housed 950
students throughout its 13 floors. But when it came time for renovation, the
task proved to be a difficult one because of the aforementioned speed-over-strategy
design. Plus, the UW’s campus master plan at the time called for a much more
open, airy space — today’s east campus gateway that runs from the lawn of the
new Gordon
Dining and Event Center all the way to the Lake Mendota shoreline at Alumni
Park.
Demolition on
the old Ogg Hall began in 2006, and the new Ogg welcomed
its first residents for the Fall 2007 semester. Capacity is much smaller than
the original 950. Today, around 600 residents live in coed “clusters” of either
double or triple rooms. Each cluster of four rooms gets its own bathroom, all
rooms offer air conditioning and walk-in closets, and there is a lounge and
kitchen on each floor. With the new building and new layout came a new address:
the building hopped across Dayton Street from number 716 to 835.
From the ’60s to today, take a look at the history of Ogg Hall!
Looking east from Park Street, construction on the original Ogg Hall begins in 1965. UW Archives S12196
Two students sit in the outdoor courtyard between Ogg, Sellery, and Witte Halls. UW Archives S04915
Students move into Ogg Hall in August 1976. UW Archives S05679
Two students chitchat in their room in Ogg Hall’s east tower in November 1976. UW Archives S05680
It was allowed! These Ogg residents were of legal drinking age when this photo was taken in 1984. (We hope.) UW Archives S04497
Looking west to the intersection of Dayton and Park, construction takes places on the new Ogg Hall in 2006. Photo courtesy of housing.wisc.edu
The finishing touches are placed on the new hall before it welcomes its first residents in August 2007. Photo courtesy of housing.wisc.edu
Flared jeans and layered T-shirts give these students away as new Ogg’s first residents in 2007. UW Archives S12451
A group of students gathers outside of Ogg Hall in 2011. Jeff Miller/University Communications.
Chip and Joanna would be proud of these students’ coordination during the Fall 2019 move-in. Jeff Miller/University Communications
Looking east from Park Street, construction on the original Ogg Hall begins in 1965. UW Archives S12196
Two students sit in the outdoor courtyard between Ogg, Sellery, and Witte Halls. UW Archives S04915
Students move into Ogg Hall in August 1976. UW Archives S05679
Two students chitchat in their room in Ogg Hall’s east tower in November 1976. UW Archives S05680
It was allowed! These Ogg residents were of legal drinking age when this photo was taken in 1984. (We hope.) UW Archives S04497
Looking west to the intersection of Dayton and Park, construction takes places on the new Ogg Hall in 2006. Photo courtesy of housing.wisc.edu
The finishing touches are placed on the new hall before it welcomes its first residents in August 2007. Photo courtesy of housing.wisc.edu
Flared jeans and layered T-shirts give these students away as new Ogg’s first residents in 2007. UW Archives S12451
A group of students gathers outside of Ogg Hall in 2011. Jeff Miller/University Communications.
Chip and Joanna would be proud of these students’ coordination during the Fall 2019 move-in. Jeff Miller/University Communications
Looking east from Park Street, construction on the original Ogg Hall begins in 1965. UW Archives S12196
Two students sit in the outdoor courtyard between Ogg, Sellery, and Witte Halls. UW Archives S04915
Students move into Ogg Hall in August 1976. UW Archives S05679
Two students chitchat in their room in Ogg Hall’s east tower in November 1976. UW Archives S05680
It was allowed! These Ogg residents were of legal drinking age when this photo was taken in 1984. (We hope.) UW Archives S04497
Looking west to the intersection of Dayton and Park, construction takes places on the new Ogg Hall in 2006. Photo courtesy of housing.wisc.edu
The finishing touches are placed on the new hall before it welcomes its first residents in August 2007. Photo courtesy of housing.wisc.edu
Flared jeans and layered T-shirts give these students away as new Ogg’s first residents in 2007. UW Archives S12451
A group of students gathers outside of Ogg Hall in 2011. Jeff Miller/University Communications.
Chip and Joanna would be proud of these students’ coordination during the Fall 2019 move-in. Jeff Miller/University Communications
