Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

UW-River Falls Plans $117M STEM Facility

  • By Matt Jones
  • 06/23/22

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls, located in River Falls, Wis., is in the final phases of planning construction on a new, $117-million STEM facility. The project has been approved by the university’s Board of Regents but still needs approval from the state Building Commission, which rejected the proposal during 2021 state budget discussions. The regents approved the project during its regular meeting on Friday, June 10, according to local news.

The new Science and Technology Innovation Center would provide 73,865 square feet of academic space for biology, chemistry, health sciences and pre-engineering programs. Its first floor would also offer space for collaborations with regional businesses.

University Chancellor Maria Gallo said that about 60 percent of the student body enrolls in a STEM course during their time at the university. UW-River Falls also produces the third-highest percentage of STEM graduates within the UW System, she said. The growing demand for STEM degrees led to the pursuit of a new facility.

“That'll be good to have state-of-the-art facilities for teaching and learning, as well as laboratory spaces to do the same and also to conduct student research, which is really important,” Gallo said. “That's one of those high-impact practices that allow students to complete their degree and then go on and be very marketable out in the workforce.”

Regents first approved the $117-million price tag in 2020. Since then, inflation has driven up construction costs, and designs have been altered to keep the project under budget. Local news reports that the state Building Commission unilaterally rejected all building projects from Gov. Tony Evers’ capital budget for 2021. Gallo said that this time around, the project has strong bipartisan support from regional legislators. The Commission will review the project in August.

“I’m confident that because we’ve met all the milestones up to this point, that we should be able to go forward,” said Gallo.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, OR

    Preserving Legacy, Designing for the Future

    As historic academic buildings age, institutions face a difficult decision: preserve and adapt or demolish and rebuild. How do we honor the legacy of these spaces while adapting them to meet the needs of modern learners?

  • Dallas ISD Voters Approve $6.2B Bond Package

    Dallas ISD voters have approved a record-setting $6.2-billion bond package that district leaders say will modernize aging campuses, eliminate portable classrooms and reshape learning environments across one of the nation’s largest school systems.

  • Harvard Announces Replacement Facility for Native American Program

    Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., recently announced that construction will begin this spring on a new home for its Native American Program, according to university news. The 6,500-square-foot, all-electric building will stand three stories and serve as the central hub for the Harvard University Native American Program (HUNAP).

  • Universities Continue to Launch Multimillion-Dollar Campus Transformations

    What makes the current wave of campus development especially noteworthy is its emphasis on multi-use functionality and community integration. Institutions are no longer investing solely in academic or athletic facilities in isolation. Instead, they are creating destinations that blend recreation, health, housing, and event-driven economic activity.