Construction on Irving & Dorothy Levy Hall, the new College of Letters & Science (L&S) building, is set to begin this year. The Wisconsin State Legislature and Governor included the project in the 2021-23 state budget with $60 million in state support, which will be complemented by $35 million in gifts, including a $20 million contribution from Jeff Levy ’72 and Marv Levy ’68, JD ’71.
Reinvesting in the Heart of UW
The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s new home for L&S, Irving & Dorothy Levy Hall, is destined to play an integral role in serving generations of future UW students. The forward-looking space will support enrollment growth in high-demand fields, modernize the student learning experience, and build connections on campus.
The new building creates a unified home for eight L&S academic departments, programs and centers that are currently spread across five facilities on campus. These include African American Studies, American Indian and Indigenous Studies, Asian American Studies, Chicano/a and Latina/o Studies, Gender & Women’s Studies, History, Jewish Studies, and Religious Studies.
Irving & Dorothy Levy Hall, covering 136,000 square feet over five levels, including one underground, will feature 13 classrooms with capacities ranging from 25 to 400 seats, as well as departmental offices and support areas. The new facility is set to partially replace the aging Humanities Building’s classrooms.
In addition to being a significant upgrade for departments within L&S, a key aspect of the new building will be to provide a space where students can gather and interact informally with each other and their instructors to maximize collaboration. Nearly two-thirds of all undergraduate credit hours are taught by L&S faculty, meaning this collaborative space will drastically enhance the foundation of the UW–Madison educational experience for all students.
As the largest of UW–Madison’s 13 schools and colleges, L&S produces well-rounded, critical-thinking students ready to tackle challenges in business and society. More than 5,000 students earn an L&S degree each year, joining the ranks of more than 240,000 L&S living alumni.
Creating a Transformative Space
Student Experience
The new L&S building creates classrooms that support active learning, modern technology, and collaborative learning – elements proven to boost educational engagement and outcomes.
Building Connections
It brings together previously dispersed departments to maximize collaboration, teaching support, and research opportunities.
Modern Facilities
The building provides 13 classrooms to support a growing student population. The additional space also supports additional enrollment growth and capacity in STEM fields.
L&S coursework provides the foundation of the UW educational experience. Nearly two-thirds of all undergraduate credit hours come from L&S.
Support Future Building Projects at UW–Madison
Learn more about how you can support UW students and other building projects on campus.
