City-Times Staff

The State of Wisconsin Building Commission today approved several key projects across the state including a new student center at UW-La Crosse and funding for preliminary design of a Science Labs building at UW-La Crosse and a Chemistry-Biology building at UW-Stevens Point. 

“I was proud to support these new learning facilities in La Crosse and Stevens Point,” said Governor Scott Walker in a statement.  “Not only are these projects good for the area communities, but their benefit will be felt all across Wisconsin.  I would like to thank building commission members for moving forward with these new facilities at UW-La Crosse and UW-Stevens Point.”

The UW-Stevens Point Chemistry-Biology Building will include twelve 55-seat general access classrooms and two 100-seat lecture halls to address the campus general access classroom demand shortage.  The construction of the new facility will address space needs deficits in Biology, Chemistry, and campus general assignment classrooms, and will accommodate space needs that can no longer be met in the existing science building due to functional and infrastructure limitations.

The new building will also eliminate over 340 parking spaces for UWSP students, leaving Stevens Point officials scrambling for parking solutions.

The new UW-La Crosse student center will consist of three stories and will be located across from the north end of the Veterans Memorial Sports Complex.

The Building Commission is chaired by Governor Walker and made up of the following members:

• Vice Chair State Representative Dean Kaufert;
• State Senator Neal Kedzie;
• State Senator Terry Moulton;
• State Senator Fred Risser;
• State Representative Joan Ballweg;
• State Representative Gordon Hintz; and
• Citizen member Bob Brandherm.