The Towering Isthmus: A Behemoth Hogs the Skyline from Bascom Hill

16 years ago, folks threw a hissy fit over the height of the Memorial Library addition.

Library will lose top floor to salvage view.   (Wisconsin Week, 12/7/88)

"The benefit of this compromise is that it achieves a slightly better view of the Capitol dome while enhancing critical space and functions in our most important educational building:' she [Donna Shalala] said.- "I am very pleased that the university and the state could reach a compromise,' [Governor Tommy] Thompson said. "This is a very fair arrangement for the state, the university, the students and faculty, and perhaps most importantly, the state taxpayers."

Other "Towering Isthmus" posts:
Cranes at dusk.  (12/11/2014)
UPDATED: The Towering Isthmus: The Towers of Porta Bella.  (11/23/2013)
The Hub, the new hulk in town.  (11/16/2014)
North Bedford Street Project Still in the Proposal Stage.  (11/11/2014)
Say goodbye to 425, 431, and 435 West Johnson Street.  (11/11/2014)
Madison Plan Commission rejects 10-story boutique hotel to take place of Pahl Tire.  (10/25/2014)
UPDATED: The Towering Isthmus: Deconstruction complete at 17, 19, 25 North Webster and 201 East Mifflin streets.  (10/25/2014)
Coming soon: Another chapter in The Towering Isthmus Saga? (9/19/2014)
Blue Velvet.  (9/10/2014)
The New Edgewater Hotel gets ready for its fireworks celebration.  (9/10/2014) 
Among the first wave of towers on the Isthmus.  (9/9/2014)
For those of you who haven't stood at the intersection of West Gilman and State Street in Madison Wisconsin lately.  (9/9/2014)
A tree grows on West Gilman Street.  (9/9/2014) 
Nobly or otherwise, this is no longer the question.  (9/8/2014) 
Deconstruction complete at 17, 19, 25 North Webster and 201 East Mifflin Streets.  (9/7/2014)
The towering isthmus (left to right).  (8/27/2014)
9 more stories to go.  (7/25/2014)
The Towering Isthmus (and the 3 cranes): For folks who can afford the view.  (7/22/2014) 
That Was Then, This is Now: The 400 Block of West Gilman.  (7/18/2014)
The towers of Porta Bella.  (7/18/2014)
New housing rising.  (5/8/2014)
Cranes over Porta Bella.  (4/22/2014)