Regents authorize construction of Science and Health Sciences Building

The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents on Friday authorized construction of UW-Eau Claire’s $340.3 million Science and Health Sciences Building.

Funding for the second phase of the project was approved in the 2023-25 state budget that was signed by the governor. The project now heads to the State Building Commission on Wednesday, Dec. 13, to authorize construction of the Science and Health Sciences Building and begin the bidding process for construction contractors.

The building, which will replace the deteriorating Phillips Hall, will be built on the sites of the former Katharine Thomas and Putnam halls next to Vicki Lord Larson Hall and McIntyre Library. The residence halls were demolished in fall 2022.

In the decision, the Regents also approved a $3.7 million upgrade to the lower-campus chiller plant to accommodate the increased air-cooling requirements of the 330,000-square-foot Science and Health Sciences Building.