Wisconsin Medical School Breaks Ground on Cancer Research Facility

The Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wis., recently broke ground on a 150,000-square-foot cancer research facility that will be the first of its kind in both the city of Milwaukee and in eastern Wisconsin, according to a news release. The MCW Cancer Research Building will centralize the college’s 700 cancer-related researchers and 135 lab spaces currently spread across its campus into a single location. The central hub will also allow greater synergy between projects and allow for the easier incorporation of community partners and research participants.

Construction costs will total about $100 million, $10 million of which comes from the State Building Commission. The facility is expected to open its doors in late 2024. MCW is partnering on the project with construction manager Mortenson and architect CannonDesign.

“The MCW Cancer Research Building will serve as a hub for cancer innovation and bring together the brightest minds to forge innovations that will address the cancer burden impacting patients and families in eastern Wisconsin and beyond,” said John Raymond, Sr., MD, MCW president and CEO. “Perhaps most importantly, this facility will allow us to increase our attention to reduce cancer disparities among underrepresented groups in our communities.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that Wisconsin ranks above the national average for rates of both cancer incidence and cancer mortality and has continuing disparities related to geography and among minority populations.

“We’re making a long-term commitment to developing advanced research programs, additional faculty and broader infrastructure that will convene brilliant physician scientists and researchers across disciplines to lead promising cancer studies right here in the Milwaukee area,” said Joseph Kerschner, MD, executive vice president and provost of MCW and the Julia A. Uihlein, MA, Dean of the MCW School of Medicine.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Pitzer College

    Designing for Change in Higher Ed Learning Environments

    Higher education will continue to evolve, and learning environments must evolve with it. By prioritizing adaptable infrastructure, thoughtful reuse, strong energy performance, and wellness-centered design, campuses can create spaces that support learning today while remaining flexible for the future.

  • DFW-Area District Opens New Replacement Middle School

    The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District near Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new replacement middle school campus, according to a news release. The new facility for Wayside Middle School, originally established in 1964, was built on the site of the former district administration building and funded through Bond Proposition A in 2023.

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.

  • abstract illustration of school gym

    How the Gymnasium Can Serve as a Model for Learning Space Design

    Multipurpose gyms work because flexibility was built into the brief from the start, not retrofitted later. The same logic applies to academic spaces.