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Planning & Construction
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Innovative Spaces, Exceptional Places
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We foster innovation at UW-Eau Claire, striving to help students explore the unknown and become individuals driven to make a difference. In order to help our community of students, faculty and staff achieve their dreams of doing in the impossible, we are always working to keep our campus up-to-date with new buildings and projects that align with the university's goals and values. While the construction process isn't always pretty, the end result is being able to deliver a product capable of giving back to the university for years to come.
Questions? Email facilitiesprojects@uwec.edu
Facilities projects are driven by UW-Eau Claire's Campus Master Plan - a framework for the physical development of our beautiful campus that conforms to our values of stewardship and sustainability. The plan and resulting projects take into account the academic and strategic goals of the university, and our vision of a vibrant learning and living environment for students, faculty, staff and community.
Status: Planned
Description: Zorn Arena, Brewer Hall, and Kjer Theater have a storied history, but have been replaced by the new Sonnentag Center and Pablo Center - modern facilities that better serve our campus and local community. These buildings will be closed in Summer 2024 and a demolition schedule will be established (expected Summer 2025). Plans are being developed to move current departments and units to other campus locations, and for the future use of the site.
Campus Impact: Local detours along the Garfield Avenue and Park Avenue corridors will be needed once demolition begins. Additional information will be communicated to campus as available.
Expected Completion: Summer 2025
Status: In progress
Description: Campus leadership is aware of challenges to physically navigate campus and we are working to find solutions within UW-Eau Claire's ability. We are working closely with Division of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) leadership to understand current needs and challenges.
Current projects include:
Campus Impact: These projects will support inclusiveness and equity on campus, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their abilities or backgrounds, can fully and comfortably engage with the UW-Eau Claire's facilities and resources.
Expected Completion: Ongoing
Status: In-progress
Description: The State of Wisconsin has allocated $340.3 million for the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire to replace its sole science facility, Phillips Hall, with a state-of-the-art Science and Health Sciences Building. Designed for contemporary research and education for students in high-demand STEM fields, the new building will be constructed on the former site of the Katharine Thomas and Putnam residence halls that were demolished in the fall of 2022.
Campus Impact: Local detours at the base of the campus hill, along Putnam Drive, and the Garfield Avenue corridor will be needed once construction starts in Spring 2024 and throughout the project
Expected Completion: Fall 2027
Completed in November 2011, UW-Eau Claire's Campus Master Plan 2010-2023 is the foundation for future facilities and physical plant development in support of UW-Eau Claire's strategic goal of becoming the premier undergraduate learning community in the upper Midwest. The plan provides a comprehensive, long-term framework for the development and management of the University's physical infrastructure and facilities. The goal is to align the campus's growth, renovation, and resource allocation with UW-Eau Claire's strategic mission and vision, ensuring that the physical environment supports academic, research, and administrative goals while fostering sustainability and a positive campus experience for all stakeholders.
Master planning provides a comprehensive analysis of existing physical conditions and existing and projected physical needs, and develop recommendations for meeting those physical needs, providing a framework for the physical development of UW-Eau Claire for the next twenty years. The master plan integrates academic and financial planning of the campus with physical development planning. The master plan process includes input from UW-Eau Claire administration, faculty, staff and students; UW System and Division of State Facilities stakeholders; representatives of local government; and the community.
The campus master plan provides recommendations for land use, space use, image and identity, access and circulation, parking, open space, athletic and recreation facilities, utilities, sustainability and potential acquisition. The plan is informed by these aligned planning efforts; it supports academic planning and serves as the physical means for implementing the strategic plan. The master plan assesses the condition and suitability of current facilities; identifies appropriate physical solutions in conjunction with operational improvements; evaluates costs of solutions; seeks funding sources; and assigns roles and responsibilities for achieving the master plan recommendations.
This dynamic process and its associated products guide the cohesive and comprehensive development of the UW-Eau Claire campus as it continues to evolve as a vibrant center of learning and living to meet the educational needs of the region and the state into the future.