Milwaukee City Wire

UWM celebrated the opening of its new Chemistry Building with a ceremony led by Chancellor Mark Mone. The event, attended by over 200 individuals including students, faculty, and government representatives, featured a chemical reaction demonstration by Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Wisconsin State Sen. Duey Stroebel.

The completion of this facility marks six years of design and construction efforts aimed at enhancing scientific education and research at UWM. Chancellor Mone emphasized the building's role in preparing future STEM professionals: “That’s what it’s all about, preparing students for their future.”

Each year, more than 3,500 UWM students enroll in chemistry or biochemistry courses. They will now benefit from a four-story, 163,400-square-foot facility that surpasses the previous one built in 1972. Amy Bogost, President of the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents, praised the new building: “It is really, truly breathtaking... The amount of people to make this dream come to fruition is really amazing.”

Speakers at the event included Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld and College of Letters & Science Dean Scott Gronert. Blumenfeld highlighted the building as a "gateway for STEM on campus," while Gronert announced Sterling Pharma Solutions' $25,000 donation to support the Chemistry Department.

Following the ceremony, attendees toured high-tech labs while enjoying refreshments prepared using liquid nitrogen. Many students who study here are expected to enter careers in fields such as medicine and genetic engineering.

Chancellor Mone noted that while buildings are important, it is what happens inside them that matters most: “But it’s what happens in the building... We couldn’t do it without them.” The new facility aims to foster collaboration with modern laboratories and flexible learning spaces designed according to current trends in chemistry education.

Key features include state-of-the-art laboratories equipped with advanced technology for hands-on learning; interactive lecture halls designed for active learning; informal learning spaces; teaching facilities showcasing science through large glass walls; an outreach laboratory supporting K-12 education; and a kilo laboratory for industrial-scale organic chemistry applications.

The $118 million project was funded through state-supported borrowing under Universities of Wisconsin's capital budget plan for 2019-2021. CannonDesign and Kahler Slater led architecture/engineering efforts alongside VJS Construction Services Inc., serving as general contractor.