Engineering the future

The UW-Madison College of Engineering growth initiative

Engineering the future

We’re thinking boldly. We are a top college with a strong reputation for outstanding education and research, yet our growth is constrained by an existing structure we cannot renovate.

We aim to create a vibrant, multifunctional “signature” engineering building that stimulates collaboration, sparks discoveries and allows the college to train generations of engineering leaders to solve the world’s challenges.

A new, state-of-the-art building is a critical starting point in our ability to provide a hands-on education to many more engineering students and help keep pace with industry growth. This expansion is a top priority for UW-Madison.

Support the project

Our new building plans

We plan to replace one of our eight buildings, the 64,000 square-foot 1410 Engineering Drive, with a 340,000-square-foot facility that will give us the modern space to educate many more engineering students and position us to stay competitive with our peers nationwide. Providing the hands-on, real-world education that’s a hallmark of our college, the new building will bring the best minds together, spark ideas, and generate solutions to the pressing challenges of today and beyond.

340^KThousand

total square feet

^{US Dollars}355^MMillion

project

2028

projected completion

Dean Robertson on the College of Engineering’s need for a new building

Extending our impact

We’re at the forefront of research and innovation, and they enhance the Wisconsin economy in many ways. Engineering research and technological advances have led to dozens of companies founded by faculty, staff, students and alumni. A diverse array of engineering research centers, institutes and consortia builds on our rich tradition of cross-disciplinary research, advances knowledge and discovery, creates connections with industry and the private sector.

^{US Dollars}100^MMillion

each year in research expenditures

140^Plus

inventions annually

170^Plus

engineering industry collaborations each year

With $7.9M in new grants, engineers will advance detection and prevention of traumatic brain injuries

September 8, 2021

New lightweight super material can battle bullets, deflect space debris

February 28, 2022

Advanced sensor networks could help farmers micromanage their fields

May 19, 2022

Why grow? Learn about employers’ demand for additional engineers

Growing talent in Wisconsin

Ranked among the best engineering schools in the country, the College of Engineering admits outstanding students. Their experiences in our college and at UW-Madison empower and enable them to further grow as thinkers, doers, professionals and leaders. They learn from top researchers who weave their research into their teaching, creating a learning environment rich with context, new ideas and discourse that benefit and inspire everyone. And 100% of our students learn engineering by doing it, whether in classrooms or laboratories, through internships and co-operative work experiences, undergrad research, student organizations, community service, competitions, or creative projects they realize in their free time.

100^Percent

Wisconsin counties with residents who are UW-Madison College of Engineering alumni

74^Percent

of our graduates stay and work in the Midwest

50^Percent

engineering undergrads from Wisconsin

Student design for a custom gate and fence system

Making a difference: Seniors’ design benefits Wisconsin company run by high schoolers

April 5, 2022

Nimish Pujara works with faculty associate Jacob Zeuske to test a wavemaker

For undergrads, there’s an undercurrent of excitement in the renovated fluid mechanics lab

April 4, 2022

For undergrad, internship adds international perspective on nuclear innovation

March 22, 2022

Co-op confirms BME undergrad’s career plans

February 8, 2022

Chu Ma talking with one of her undergraduate researchers, Leena Abdullah Fayyad

Chu Ma has built a lab where undergraduate researchers can thrive

March 1, 2022

A ray of sunshine: Badgerloop team transitions to solar car competition

January 27, 2022

Maitreyee Sanjiv Marathe with the e-Little Free Library

Solar Little Free Libraries provide power to people who need it most

May 23, 2022

Students from the Wisconsin Autonomous team work in an automotive lab.

In autonomous competition, students drive the solutions

April 5, 2022

UW-Madison students tune toys to work for children with disabilities

December 16, 2021

We live in a world of limits. Ours is space.

The time is now

Our building is the top priority for UW-Madison, as well as for the UW System overall. We will be sharing its cost with the state of Wisconsin. We currently are securing private funding commitments so that we can demonstrate to the legislature that we are serious about this new building. We need to raise $150 million (along with a $205 million commitment from the State of Wisconsin).

July 2021

Governor signs Wisconsin’s 2021-23 budget, which includes approximately $73 million in funding for a major utility infrastructure project that will lay the groundwork for a new engineering building

Spring 2022

College receives $1 million from the Wisconsin legislature to continue building planning

May 2022

State selects combined architecture and engineering firms for the project

Winter 2022

Governor releases draft of 2023-25 Wisconsin budget

Spring 2023

Legislative leaders revise 2023-25 state budget draft

Summer 2023

Legislature votes on 2023-25 state budget

Fall 2023

Major utility infrastructure project begins

Summer 2024

Target groundbreaking for new building

Spring 2028

Target building completion and opening

Help spread the word: Send a message encouraging your legislator to approve a new engineering building.

Contact your legislator

Questions?

Email Director of Development Rob Herrick to learn about opportunities for you to provide support or to make a gift or pledge.

Contact Rob