UWO to build $55 million academic building

Construction will begin later this year on the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh’s first academic building built on campus since 1971.

The 200,000-square-foot academic center is one key component in UW–Oshkosh’s role in providing accessible, affordable quality education to the New North region.

About $8.6 million of the project’s $55 million price tag is to be raised from private donors via the pride.purpose.promise campaign, the first comprehensive campaign in the university’s history. The campaign, now in the silent phase, includes the academic building, scholarships and student/faculty collaborative learning and research.

UWO estimates the project will create more than 2,000 construction-related jobs for the region over the next three years.

“Northeastern Wisconsin, one of the largest population centers in Wisconsin, continues to grow, and with that growth also comes an increased demand for educational programs and services,” said Chancellor Richard H. Wells. “UW–Oshkosh, the region’s most comprehensive university and the state’s third largest, has grown to meet that demand while maintaining quality education. The campus, however, has not added a new academic center since the early 1970s and is significantly short of meeting minimum space requirements.”

Since 2000, the university has increased its enrollment by 1,000 students, and under the Wisconsin Growth Agenda, UW–Oshkosh expects to increase its enrollment by several hundred more students in high-demand fields such as biology/microbiology, medical technology, psychology, nursing, business and math/science teacher education.

The building will feature state-of-the-art classrooms, labs, project rooms and faculty offices. The university-wide impact will relieve crowding and provide opportunities for future renovations to update facilities for the colleges of Nursing and Education and Human Services. The building will also provide nonprofits and the business community with world-class facilities for meetings and special training, educational and professional development programs in the evenings and on weekends.

“Modern facilities and amenities are important to students and faculty, and necessary to meet Wisconsin’s growing demand for well-educated professionals and business leaders,” said Wells. “An investment in the new academic center will help our faculty and staff to deliver the promise of a contemporary learning environment to future generations.”

Located along the Fox River, the academic center will become the new “front door” to the campus. Chicago architectural firm VOA, in association with Berners–Schober Associates Inc. of Green Bay, have been selected to design the building. Berners–Schober was the architect for the $17 million remodeling of UWO’s Halsey Science Center.

“We are very grateful for the support of northeastern Wisconsin, which has a vested interest in the success of this university,” said capital campaign co-chair David Omachinski, retired president of Oshkosh B’Gosh Inc. and an independent executive management consultant.

“This capital campaign will provide support and help to continue the transformation of UW–Oshkosh,” said co-chair William Raaths, chief executive officer at Great Northern Corp.

“The construction of this new building is vital to the region,” said John Casper, president and CEO of the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce. “Not only will the construction project provide needed jobs, but the increased enrollment — and the staff and visitors that come with it — brings millions of dollars into the area each year. Additionally, this project will add an aesthetically appealing new structure that we can all be proud graces the Fox River.”