Sonnentags’ vision made new facility possible

The weeklong celebration of The Sonnentag’s opening was highlighted by the Sept. 12 ribbon-cutting ceremony for the $122 million facility on the banks of the Chippewa River.

“This project has far exceeded my expectations,” John Sonnentag says. “Thank you to everyone who helped in any way with building this marvelous complex.”

Construction on the building started in spring 2022 after the Sonnentags, both UW-Eau Claire alumni who met and married while at the university, donated cash and land valued at $70 million. The Sonnentags’ gift is the largest in university history and among the largest ever given to a regional public university in the country. UW-Eau Claire students, Pablo Foundation, the city of Eau Claire and Xcel Energy also were either financial or in-kind donors to the project.

“It has truly taken a cast of thousands to bring this magnificent facility to life, but none of us would be here this afternoon had it not been for the generosity of two amazing Blugolds,” Chancellor James Schmidt says. “The Sonnentags’ love for UW-Eau Claire and their desire to create wonderful opportunities for our students never wavered during this process.”

The 225,900-square-foot complex includes the Sonnentag Event Center, the John and Carolyn Sonnentag Fieldhouse, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Center for Health and Wellbeing and the Mayo Clinic Health System Diagnostic Imaging and Sports Medicine Center.

The amenities in The Sonnentag will forever change the landscape of UW-Eau Claire and the entire community, Schmidt says.

“Buildings are wonderful and this place is in a class by itself, but life isn’t really about buildings, it’s about people, the people you meet and the partnerships you forge,” Schmidt says. “As I stand here today, I can proudly say that the Sonnentags have changed my life. I can proudly say that the Sonnentags, with their gift, will change the lives of thousands of Blugolds and future Blugolds who come to enjoy, make connections and maybe even meet future husbands, wives, business partners and lifelong friends.”

John and Carolyn Sonnentag wanted the facility to have a “wow factor” for visitors and they were not disappointed in the project that took a decade to become reality.

“Here we are under budget, on schedule and, wow, what a complex,” John Sonnentag says.

Over the past 60 years County Concrete Co. was blessed to have a national customer base that allowed the Sonnentags to contribute to the project, Carolyn Sonnentag says.

“This building may have our name on it, but without the leadership and continued growth of our business, this could not have been possible,” she says.

The Sonnentag building originally was planned as a replacement for 70-year-old Zorn Arena on campus, but evolved into the largest indoor event venue in northwest Wisconsin that has “far, far exceeded the vision,” says Kimera Way, president of the Eau Claire Community Complex, the entity that owns the Sonnentag facilities. The building will accommodate multiple types of events, including being home to the university’s men’s and women’s basketball games and other athletic tournaments, indoor concerts and other entertainment or sports events.

Jason Verdugo, UW-Eau Claire’s director of athletics, told the Sonnentags at the ceremony that their generosity will impact the athletic department and student athletes for years to come.

“The best way we can honor your family is by what we do day in and day out, how we compete, how we practice, our commitment to the Blugold standard,” Verdugo says. “I think everyone knows that standard is excellence, so my vow to you is that we will do our very best to do that.”

The Sonnentag will be a key driver for economic development, bringing new activity and investment into the Chippewa Valley, says Dave Minor, president and CEO of the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce. The facility’s opening will offer new opportunities for events, conventions and partnerships from throughout the country.

“The Sonnentag Center really represents far more than just a building,” Minor says. “It’s a symbol of what we can do when vision meets opportunity, when education, business and community come together for a shared purpose. This facility will serve as the hub for sports, recreation, entertainment and innovation enhancing the quality of life here in the Chippewa Valley region.”

Dan Market, retired chair of the board of directors for Market & Johnson, the primary contactor on the project, noted the economic impact the construction phase had on the Eau Claire community. A total of 55 subcontractors paid $38 million in construction wages and benefits to 700 employees who worked 375,000 hours on the two-year building project.

Before the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Korinne Haeffel, director of U.S. market transformation and development for the U.S. Green Building Council, announced that The Sonnentag has received gold-level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification for its emphasis on environmental sustainability and its WELL Health-Safety Rating. The Sonnentag is the largest LEED gold-certified facility of its type in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and the third largest in the Midwest, according to the U.S. Green Building Council. 

Among the complex’s sustainability features are 190 vertical geothermal wells using 36 miles of piping to heat and cool the building. The building is fully electric with Xcel Energy providing power from a local, offsite solar facility.

“Buildings should never just be something that keeps the weather out,” Haeffel says. “This building exemplifies the idea that buildings should be catalysts, not only for the work that happens within them, but for the greater community. This team, the public-private partnerships, the investments that have been made, clearly do that extraordinarily well.”

UW-Eau Claire students initiated the LEED certification discussion and financially supported the application and participation in the process. Students also are paying segregated fees toward operation of The Sonnentag.

“The opening of The Sonnentag marks a new period for not only our campus, but the Eau Claire community as a whole,” says Sam Consiglio, student body president. “It symbolizes collaboration and connection, a place for athletics teams to feel supported and students can root for their peers, a place where we can partner with Mayo and continue to expand the health of our city and a place where people can come together and engage in events throughout Eau Claire.

“Aside from being a state-of-the-art facility, the room for connection, collaboration and building a sense of belonging in community is just as present, creating a space where students, faculty and community members can collaborate and build connections.”