Construction of a new academic building: A 160,000-square-foot academic building that provides space for flexible learning and new learning initiatives.

Estimated Project Cost: $30 million

Campaign Contribution Goal: $7 million

Anticipated State Contribution: $23 million

Project Timeline: State funding approved by the governor and legislature. Design approval expected Spring 2008. Construction anticipated to begin Spring 2009.

Elizabeth Blue
Professor of Social Work 
"Having so many differing disciplines in one building and having modern classrooms, lab areas and meeting spaces in the new building will assist faculty and students. Opportunities for collaborative interaction and research, an improved instructional capacity and a location which fosters community building are all pluses of this new building."
 

Construction of a new academic building                    

Construction of a new academic building, to be named Swenson Hall, is of paramount importance to providing contemporary, active, flexible learning spaces for our students. Two academic buildings, Sundquist and McCaskill halls, have been remodeled over the years but are now at the end of their useful lives.

The new building proposed for the north end of campus is a 144,000-square-foot facility that will contain classrooms, academic department offices, and laboratories.

This building will have the infrastructure necessary to handle changing technologies and new approaches to teaching and learning. Laboratories will be equipped to complement tools in the real work place. By putting faculty members' offices in the same building as their classrooms, students will have better access to their professors. Faculty members will have space and facilities to conduct projects and activities in their academic building. Departments will be brought together in cohesive units, yet be within a building atmosphere that encourages faculty collaboration.

The campaign goal is to raise $7 million to leverage state construction funding for this facility. Both the UW System and the State of Wisconsin have approved construction of this approximately $30 million building. Construction is expected to begin in early 2009.