The University of Wisconsin-Platteville (UW-Platteville) will spend $123.7 million to renovate and expand its engineering building. The project will convert the 60-year-old Ottensman Hall into a flexible learning and collaborative facility. Construction is expected to begin in May 2028.
The project will start by developing a replacement data center and upgrading campus computer equipment. Additional work will build out a forensic investigation laboratory and a biosafety level 2 instructional and research morgue. The high-bay civil engineering laboratories will be renovated, and all chemistry instructional and research laboratories will have their size, shape and configuration corrected.
UW-Platteville will provide adjacencies to the chemical stockroom, instrumentation laboratories and support spaces for the chemistry sections. To meet student and faculty needs, the university will update and resolve all teaching and technology inadequacies in the laboratories. This will include full replacement of the fume hood and exhaust system and building general access classrooms.
Plans include replacing all building infrastructure systems, including mechanical, electrical, telecommunications, fire protection and plumbing. The university will retrofit a fire suppression system and repair the building domestic water service. The project will repair and replace the building’s exterior envelope concrete and masonry, roof sections and install new exterior windows.
Additional work will reconfigure the exterior entrances and exits and repair or replace the retaining wall at the north entrance plaza. The university will improve the interior circulation and wayfinding solutions. Architectural finishes will be replaced and restored and issues with the stormwater and drainage systems will be addressed.
As part of the project, the university plans to demolish Gardner Hall and Royce Hall, with the potential demolition of Pioneer Tower and restoring associated sites. UW-Platteville will ensure construction adheres to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification standards.
(Photo courtesy of James Steakley.)
