(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s Building Commission recently approved spending $70 million on projects for the University of Wisconsin System.
The projects include $29 million to expand the UW-Madison engineering building, $10.5 million for the Winther Hall/Heide Hall Entry at UW-Whitewater and $5.4 million to complete Heritage Hall at UW-Stout.
The funds were available because previously approved projects at the UW System came in under budget, according to Gov. Tony Evers. Evers said that he believes the projects should have been approved last year, blaming Republican lawmakers for delaying the project approval.
“Our UW System is a central part of Wisconsin’s ability to compete in recruiting, training, and retaining a talented workforce, and it is absolutely essential that we support the UW’s important work, from these projects to robust state investments in our next budget,” Evers said in a statement.
The approved funding includes a small project fund to pay for what was called a backlog of maintenance and repair projects across the state.
The UW-Madison engineering building project will allow for expanded enrollment by 1,000 students along with updating classrooms and both instructional and research laboratories.
The UW-Whitewater project is intended to improve instructional and departmental spaces throughout Winther/Heide halls.
The UW-Stout project will create a new home for the College of Arts and Human Sciences by consolidating spaces that are in several buildings currently.
