By Joe Bachman
Editor

STEVENS POINT — Dozens of community leaders, representatives, as well as university staff and officials celebrated a dedication ceremony for the new UW-Stevens Point Chemistry and Biology building on Tuesday, Aug. 28.

The dedication ceremony served as a warm-up of sorts, as the $75.18 million chemistry-biology building will hold its ribbon cutting event on Sept. 14. This is the first major free-standing academic building for the university in 40 years.

UWSP Intermin Dean of Students Eric Yonke. (City Times Photo)

Interim Dean of Students Eric Yonke spoke at the event, and honored Chris Cirmo, who served as the dean of the College of Letters and Science since 2009 before his untimely death in 2017.

“Chris was a dedicated leader; he cared deeply about the faculty and staff, and the students and the college,” said Yonke. “I think we all agree that we wish he could be with us here today to see how beautiful this facility has turned out. You are missed, Chris, and we are thinking of you specially on this dedication day.”

The building stands at 176,500 square feet, and the state-of-the-art, science-on-display facility will serve the chemistry and biology departments. This includes 58 research and teaching laboratories, seven classrooms, two lecture halls, a green roof, cafe, and tropical conservatory, which will finish in the fall.

“For me, the most important part of what we’re doing today, and the words that will be spoken today are simply this: This building represents the affirmation of what we do on this campus,” said UWSP Chancellor Bernie Patterson. “The process of getting this approved and all the steps became much more important to this campus than a biology and chemistry department.”

UWSP Chancellor Bernie Patterson. (City Times Photo)

Miron Construction helped lead the way for the project, which included 150 subcontractors and more than 1,500 employees. This will give 45 faculty and staff members a new place to call ‘home.’

As Yonke honored Cirmo, Patterson honored who is considered by many to be a war hero, and a patriot in many circles – United States Senator John McCain, who recently lost a battle with brain cancer and passed on Aug. 25.

“Our country lost a true great American last week,” said Patterson. “John McCain gave 60 years of his life to our country. In his last public statement released, he chose to remind us that we are a nation of ideas. Universities are the cradle of ideas, and our country, and anywhere that freedom is honored and valued.”

The new building was approved by the State Building Commission through $75 million in capital funding with the state’s 2013-15 biennium budget. These projects are not affected by the UW-System cuts.

You can check out the nearly completed facility at 2101 Fourth Ave.

UW-Stevens Point faculty and staff members are moving into the new Chemistry Biology Building this summer as they prepare the new space for fall classes.