Higher Education Construction

...hall of structural biology, the $30.3-million Gatewood Wing of the mechanical engineering building, and a $26.1-million renovation and addition for the Mackey Arena.

Photo: KAI Design & Build

Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis recently completed a uniquely styled Early Childhood Development & Parenting Education Center. The 47,885-sq-ft, $17-million building has a distinctive curved white roof with an opening over an outdoor play/observation area.

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About $322.3 million of projects are now in planning. The largest is the $98-million addition and renovation to the student fitness and wellness center, scheduled to begin construction in 2010. Following it are construction of a $30-million animal disease diagnostic lab, a $30-million center for student excellence, the $25.7-million First Street Towers West building, and a $23.5-million boiler installation.

University of Wisconsin-MadisonThe University of Wisconsin-Madison currently has about $1.5 billion worth of capital projects in various stages of planning, design and construction. Since 2005, it has completed 41 major projects worth a total of $981 million.

Right now, four major projects with a total value of $3 million are in planning; 13 major projects totaling $670 million are in design; 29 major projects totaling $579 million are under construction; and nine major projects totaling $200 million are enumerated in the campus six-year plan. An “enumerated” project has been put on the list of things to do, but has not yet seen any planning or design.

The largest projects currently in construction include the $200-million Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery, the $112-million biochemistry building phase II, the $94-million new South Campus Union, and a $47.2-million addition to the Chazen Museum of Art.

The largest projects now in planning include $250.6 million of upgrades to the Charter Street Heating Plant, the $134.8-million Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research Phase II, the $100-million Wisconsin Energy Institute, the $47.6-million lakeshore residence halls and foodservice facilities, and a $41.3-million renovation of Gordon Commons.

University of Wisconsin-OshkoshThe University of Wisconsin’s campus in Oshkosh is currently building a $48-million academic building that will stand four stories tall and encompass 191,000 sq ft. The first new academic building constructed on the campus since 1971, this LEED-Gold-certified facility will house the college of business and departments of the college of letters and science. Construction started in October, 2009. Completion is scheduled for fall, 2011.

Marquette University In Milwaukee, Marquette University is putting the finishing touches on its new $85-million Eckstein Law School, which will open this August. This spring, the university will break ground for the first phase of the Discovery Learning Complex, which will become the new home of its college of engineering. Phase one will stand five stories high, take in about 100,000 sq ft and cost $35 million. It is scheduled for completion in August, 2011. The complex will be completed at some future date by a 155,000-sq-ft building that is expected to cost $65 million.

St. Louis

Harris-Stowe State University In St. Louis, Harris-Stowe State University recently completed a $17-million, 47,885-sq-ft early childhood development and parenting education center with an eye-catching design that features an interestingly curved and sloping roof with a cutout for the open-air playground in the building’s center.

St. Louis Community College St. Louis Community College is in the midst of constructing the $7.5-million Harrison Education Center. The 31,000-sq-ft building, expected to qualify for the LEED Gold certification, is scheduled for completion in May of this year.