UW-Stevens Point: Cupola getting a facelift

A well-known campus symbol at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is receiving a facelift.

The cupola that sits at the top of the historic Old Main building on the UW-Stevens Point campus is surrounded by scaffolding as it undergoes repairs to re-establish structural support, update its paint job and moldings and replace current lighting with LED fixtures.

“The cupola serves as a primary symbol of the campus, so maintaining its repair, integrity and appearance has significant meaning on many levels,” said Carl Rasmussen, the university’s campus planner.

The 22-foot tall cupola had begun to lean, sections of the fascia molding both above and below its columns had fallen off and paint was peeling, Rasmussen said. In addition, the cupola is lit at night with two 500-watt quartz light fixtures that have a short lifespan and require changing twice a year at a dangerous pitched roof location 70 feet above ground.

“Advancement in LED technology will provide increased savings in energy consumption and because of their longer life, reduce the number of bulb changes,” he added.

The work is being done by Ellis Stone Construction of Stevens Point, with a completion date of late October.