Milwaukee City Wire

UWM will officially unveil its new Chemistry Building at a grand opening celebration from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday. The event will celebrate the completion of six years of design and construction and cap a significant milestone in UWM’s commitment to advancing scientific education and research.

The celebration will start with a dedication featuring remarks from Chancellor Mark Mone, other special guests, and a ceremonial “chemical reaction.” An open house reception, tours of the new space, and presentations from students and faculty will follow.

Construction of the four-story, 163,400-square-foot building started in 2022, replacing a facility built in 1972. The new Chemistry Building serves as a gateway to UWM’s STEM departments and helps faculty and staff better prepare students interested in fast-growing fields like medicine, genetic engineering, toxicology, pharmaceutics, chemical education, nanoscience, and more. More than 3,500 students take chemistry or biochemistry classes each year.

“The chemical industry is the fifth-largest manufacturing sector in Wisconsin, and UWM graduates are vital to that industry,” Mone said. “This building will not only enhance the learning experience for our students but it will also fill the state’s talent pipeline and bolster our research capabilities, contributing to significant scientific advances.”

The $118 million building is designed to foster collaboration and innovation. It features modern laboratories, advanced research equipment, and flexible learning spaces that reflect the latest trends in chemistry education and research. It will support cutting-edge research in areas such as materials science, medicinal chemistry, and environmental chemistry.

Some notable features of the new Chemistry Building include:

State-of-the-art laboratories: Designed for undergraduate students, graduate students, and researchers; these labs are equipped with the latest technology to facilitate hands-on learning and innovative research. Instructional and research labs are side-by-side to connect students with researchers.

Interactive lecture halls: The lecture halls are intentionally designed as student-centered active learning spaces. One features a wall that slides open to the lobby for symposiums and conferences.

Informal learning spaces: The floor plan expands the corridors to provide comfortable open areas for students to continue learning outside classrooms and labs.

Teaching and research facilities: Large glass walls with natural lighting form a “science on display” environment welcoming others to see information on the scientific process.

Outreach laboratory: The integrated space can be used for multiple purposes supporting K-12 teachers' learning needs along with those studying to become teachers.

Kilo laboratory: This lab has emulation space with new reactors for large-scale chemistry aiding students' understanding of industrial applications of organic chemistry.