With more than $70 million in deferred maintenance, the Humanities Building is no longer able to support the needs of students or campus. The building’s major problems include:
- Deterioration of building structure and systems at the end of their useful life: Building design flaws have resulted in significant deterioration of the building envelope, structural supports, and plumbing, electrical, mechanical, fire suppression, and elevator systems. The elevators and mechanical systems are often down for repairs, and the building has major humidification, heating, and cooling control issues.
- Building conditions are damaging learning materials and making some rooms unusable: Instructional spaces are damaged from regular water leaks from the building plumbing/drainage system and condensation from failing windows, which has compromised musical instruments, art equipment and materials, acoustical wall treatments, floors, and drywall.
- Inefficient building design and layout: The building has wayfinding difficulties with numerous non-contiguous floors, unused open plazas, and unconnected hallways that create safety issues. The building does not meet modern building code compliance, including ADA accessibility standards. Building envelope security issues have resulted in theft of property and vandalism that would be complex and costly to address.
- Obsolete layout and inadequate space: The building does not have adequate space to facilitate current teaching methods or accommodate program growth. It does not — and will not — meet the needs of our modern graduates entering the workforce.
Total cost: $292.6 million
This project will relocate the arts and music programs to existing sites, followed by the demolition of the Humanities Building. Of the total cost, $262.6 million would come from state funding and $30 million would be raised in gifts and grants. These are crucial investments that will serve Wisconsin students and create space for growth that directly benefits Wisconsin’s economy and workforce.
The Impact of the Arts in Wisconsin
UW–Madison alumni in the arts are finding success and contributing to their communities in careers both within and outside of the traditional arts realm.
Economic Impact: $11.9 billion
… and growing in Wisconsin’s creative sector, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Job Creation: 89,000+
Wisconsin’s creative job market is growing and includes jobs in graphic design, marketing, digital media, video game production, photography, web design, and K-12 and higher education.
UW–Madison's Art & Music Alumni
The Art Department’s growing degree and certificate programs set the foundation for students to excel in many areas after graduation. UW–Madison’s more than 7,900 living art and art education alumni are in high demand and pursue a wide range of careers, including:
- Creative directors, photographers, and graphic designers for organizations such as Wisconsin-based Carmex, the Milwaukee Bucks, and national corporations including Lucasfilm, Meta, and HBO.
- Specialists in product design and materials science in engineering, glass and metal manufacturing, chemistry, architecture, and product development.
- Video game designers and computer graphics experts employed at (and leading) major companies, including Wisconsin’s Raven Software.
The Mead Witter School of Music has between 400 and 450 music majors each year. The School educates many non-music majors, is home to the acclaimed UW Marching Band, and hosts more than 350 recitals, concerts, and public events for the community each year. Alumni include:
- Project managers and systems engineers for companies ranging from Epic Systems in Wisconsin to Apple Inc. and the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
- Orchestra/choir directors and music educators at public and private K-12 schools, colleges, and universities in Wisconsin.
- Musicians winning Grammy Awards and working with acclaimed orchestras and performing ensembles.
Find out how you can help advance these priorities in the next state budget.