UW–Madison’s capital budget request targets urgent infrastructure improvements critical to maintaining our competitive edge in education and research, while expanding housing capacity to accommodate recent and ongoing enrollment growth. These investments are essential to ensuring we can continue to meet the needs of the state and its workforce.
UW–MADISON 2025–2027 CAPITAL BUDGET PRIORITIES
Humanities Building Relocation & Demolition
The Humanities Building has over $70 million in deferred maintenance and structural deficiencies that create barriers to educational effectiveness. Currently, there are 11 lecture halls that are unusable due to deteriorating building conditions. This project will relocate the arts and music programs to existing sites, followed by the demolition of the outdated Humanities Building. This investment is crucial for serving Wisconsin students and creating space for future academic growth that directly benefits Wisconsin’s economy and workforce. Read more about this project. Request: $292.6M ($262.6M GFSB / $30M Gifts)
More Residence Hall Space to Meet Student Demand
With student enrollment on the rise, UW–Madison faces a critical housing shortage. University Housing is at 115% design capacity. Rooms designed as doubles are serving as triples and lounges are being converted into bedrooms. Dane County is one of the fastest growing areas of the state and faced with housing challenges. The university is partnering with state, local, and private partners to try and tackle the issue. Additional residence hall space is one part of the overall solution, which includes new buildings and the renovation of existing sites. The new space will add 1,500 to 2,000 additional beds, ensuring that our students have stable, affordable housing. Request: $293.4M (PRSB Funded)
ADDITIONAL CAPITAL PROJECTS
West Campus Research Building
Planning and design funds for a new research building and parking ramp will support the expansion of academic and research activities. There has been significant interest from industry partners in modern lab space in proximity to UW-Madison researchers. This would further our connection between research and basic science to commercial application. The development of this interdisciplinary research space supports the state’s economic development goals and could include incubator space, highly technical labs, and dedicated support for entrepreneurs. The funding model includes both public and private support.Request: $19.65M (PRSB Funded)
Dejope Residence Hall Dining
Expansion and renovation of dining facilities at Dejope Residence Hall will accommodate the growing student population. Request: $10.7M (PRSB Funded)
Chadbourne Residence Hall Dining
Enhancements to Rheta’s Market will improve service efficiency and better meet the evolving needs of Chadbourne Residence Hall residents.
Request: $18.8M (PRSB Funded)
Minor Facilities Renewal Projects
These requests address crucial infrastructure needs, including renovations to Van Vleck Lecture Hall, a roof replacement at Vilas Communication Hall, and exterior updates to Waters Residence Hall. Multi-building upgrades to fire alarms, elevators, and digital controls will enhance safety and energy efficiency. The Charter Street Heating Plant project will modernize electrical systems and add a chiller and thermal storage to improve reliability and efficiency.Request: $56.94M ($42.58M GFSB / $14.36M PRSB) /strong>
Find out how you can help advance these priorities in the next state budget.