There’s a joke in Wisconsin that the state has two seasons: winter and construction. The same might be said for the UW–Madison campus, where construction cranes seem to sprout like coneflowers, and the bumblebee hum of heavy machinery rises along with the warming temperatures.
As the built environment of campus grows from one year to the next, so does wonder about what structures are new and what’s to come. Curious to see what’s in the works? Here’s an overview of three major building projects at UW–Madison.
New for Fall 2025
This year’s splashiest reveal, Morgridge Hall made its debut in August 2025 as the shared home for all School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences (CDIS) disciplines. The 343,000-square-foot, seven-story building combines classrooms, study spaces, research labs, outdoor terraces, and sweeping views to create a welcoming, collaborative space for CDIS students and other campus learners alike.
Designed by LMN Architects and Kahler Slater, Morgridge Hall channels the organic character of the nearby Wisconsin Institute for Discovery and Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center. At the center of the building is the Heart, a sun-drenched atrium and common space canopied by walkways and decorated with living plant walls. Biophilic design meant to integrate nature into the built environment and sustainability features define the space. The building is topped with green roofs and 300-plus solar panels and includes a stormwater capture system as part of its effort to achieve LEED Platinum certification — a designation that would make Morgridge Hall the most sustainable academic facility on campus.
Upcoming
The busy corner of North Park and West Johnson Streets is the future home for the College of Letters and Science’s Irving and Dorothy Levy Hall. Expected to open in summer 2026, the 136,000-square-foot “hub for the humanities” will be the new home for eight departments that were previously housed in various buildings across campus.
The new structure will have space for 1,100 students, a rooftop garden, and ample bike parking. Levy Hall’s early designs reveal a modern exterior that balances a red-toned facade with expanses of luminous windows. Inside spaces focus on clean lines, with a “social core” that spans the building to foster interdepartmental communication.
Phillip A. Levy Engineering Center
The Philip A. Levy Engineering Center officially broke ground in April 2025, making way for the 395,000-square-foot structure’s anticipated opening in 2028. The building is long awaited, owing to delays in state funding approval and growing demand for engineers across the state. As of 2023, the College of Engineering had capacity to enroll only 20% of applicants. The new building is expected to serve an additional 1,000 undergraduate engineering students.
Renderings for the new “centerpiece” of UW–Madison’s engineering campus depict organic forms and a dramatic cantilever recalling designs from infamous Wisconsin architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Sustainable features include rooftop green spaces to manage stormwater and photovoltaics that will support some of the building’s energy needs.
Correction: A previous version of this article stated that Levy Hall will replace the Humanities Building. The departments moving from Humanities to Levy Hall include the History and Jewish Studies departments.
What a fantastic article! I really appreciated how clearly you laid out the scope of this year’s campus construction season—seeing the projects in motion at University of Wisconsin–Madison helps me feel connected to how the campus is growing and changing. Thanks for making these big developments accessible and engaging!