Republican legislators delay the reallocation more than $70 million in building projects for UW System, continuing obstruction of critically needed projects

MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers today announced the Wisconsin State Building Commission approved a total of $81.5 million in key projects across the state, while Republican legislators delayed the reallocation of more than $70 million in funding for critical UW System building projects statewide, including UW-Madison's engineering building, Winther and Heide Halls at UW-Whitewater, and Heritage Hall at UW-Stout.

“Whether preserving our state’s historic sites or investing in the latest equipment for our emergency responders, it is crucial that we invest in projects across our state that will not only modernize facilities to meet the needs of the 21st century but advance our state agencies, universities, and technical colleges and grow both our local and state economies,” said Gov. Evers. “Every project approved today is critical to our communities. But our UW System is one of our state's greatest assets in competing for, retaining, and retaining talented workers to build a workforce for the future, and it’s a shame that support for UW continues to face partisan obstruction.

“I am deeply disappointed that Republican lawmakers are once again pulling the rug out from under UW in the eleventh hour and putting politics ahead of doing what's best for our kids, our workforce and economy, and our state. We have to make sure our UW System remains the gem of our state and has the means and resources they need to compete—our students, workforce and employers, and the future of our communities and state depend upon it. We will, again, bring these projects to the State Building Commission in the New Year, and I urge Republican lawmakers to approve them.”

Today, Republican legislators denied the reallocation of more than $70 million made available by the Science/Health Science Building and lower campus chiller and cooling tower replacement projects at UW-Eau Claire, which are well underway and under budget. The more than $70 million available would have been reallocated to projects already approved by the Commission, including $10.5 million for the Winther and Heide Hall projects at UW-Whitewater, $5.4 million for Heritage Hall at UW-Stout, and $29 million for the new engineering building at UW-Madison, which already faced months of partisan delays. Finally, $25 million of the $70 million would have been reallocated for several other small projects across the system to address the repair and maintenance of university facilities. The Commission is slated to vote on the reallocation again in January.

Highlights of the Commission’s approved projects include:

• The release of Building Trust Funds to prepare the preliminary design for the new Fire Response Equipment Facility and Fire Equipment Fabrication Storage Facility at the Lemay Forestry Center for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). These two new facilities will help preserve new and existing vehicles and equipment, as well as provide a centralized wildland fire response station for programs in the area.
• The exterior rehabilitation to the historic Charles Robinson House at the Wade House State Historic Site in the town of Greenbush and addressing several building repairs, including deficiencies identified in the Historic Structure Report. The Charles Robinson House is listed in both the National and State Register of Historic Places due to its Greek Revival architectural style and its association with the history of local exploration and settlement.
• Construction of the Phase I and II chiller modifications at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King in Waupaca County. This project will improve operational needs and efficiencies, as well as provide necessary emergency power backup capabilities. 
• Approval of three UW System projects under the Instructional Space and Technology Projects Program, targeting essential upgrades to instructional spaces across multiple campuses. Projects include renovations at UW-Green Bay’s Studio Arts center, UW-Madison’s Steenbock Memorial Library, and UW-Oshkosh’s Arts and Communication Center Music Hall. These improvements are designed to address deferred maintenance and accessibility standards, as well as improve modern learning environments.
• Approval of exterior envelope maintenance and repair to the UW-Platteville Williams Fieldhouse as part of the 2023-25 Minor Facilities Renewal Program, which will improve storefront and vestibule issues and increase energy efficiency.
• Authorization for 22 facility maintenance and repair projects across various state agencies, including the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs, DNR, the Wisconsin Historical Society, and the UW System.

The Building Commission is chaired by Gov. Evers and made up of the following members:

• State Sen. Brad Pfaff;
• State Sen. Mary Felzkowski;
• State Sen. André Jacque;
• State Rep. Jill Billings;  
• State Rep. Rob Swearingen;
• State Rep. Robert Wittke; and
• Citizen Member Barb Worcester.

An online version of this release is available here.