New Biochemistry Building - 2010

By Professor Mike Cox

The department is building again. With the state and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation contributing most of the funding, the older part of the Biochemistry complex is about to be transformed.

Readers may remember that the department largely abandoned the old 1912, 1937, and 1956 wings when it occupied the new Biochemistry addition in 1998. The older wings have been occupied by several temporary tenants, including the Bacteriology department. With the recent completion of the new Microbiology building, the older Biochemistry wings are being vacated again and we are ready for Biochemistry phase II.

Planning has been complex. The program includes research facilities, teaching facilities, service facilities, and an animal care suite, with the entire project encompassing 265,000 gross square feet. The research labs are designed to house the faculty from the Enzyme Institute, as well as several other Biochemistry faculty and the entire Biomolecular Chemistry Department. The teaching facility will include two large modern lecture halls, many smaller teaching rooms, new teaching laboratories, administrative space for student services, and a student lounge.

The site includes the footprints of all the older wings, as well as the Agricultural Journalism building. Pressure from many quarters in the state and university administrations (and including many faculty in the Biochemistry Department) quickly led to the shelving of any plan that envisioned the razing of any of the older buildings on the west side of Henry Mall. This called for some creativity, and the Flad architects have not disappointed.

Thus, the 1956 wing is now scheduled for demolition, along with the portion of the 1912 wing that connects the Henry Mall rectangle to the 1937 wing. The auditorium and animal rooms in the 1985 wing will also be demolished. A new research tower will rise on a footprint south of and adjacent to the 1985 tower, with a footprint that includes the northern part of the 1956 wing, as well as the current 1985 auditorium and animal rooms. With six floors above ground, this tower will rise higher than the current 1985 tower. The research space will be connected on its east side with a gutted and refurbished Ag Journalism building, which will now house a variety of Biochemistry support facilities and a café. A new pedestrian corridor will separate this facility from the 1912/37 wings, and will provide easy access to the Elm tree courtyard from Henry Mall. The 1912/37 wings will be transformed into modern teaching and administrative facilities.

It is an ambitious project, with many features that will enhance both teaching and research for many decades to come. Demolition is to begin in late summer of 2008, with ground-breaking to occur in early fall. Completion and occupancy slated for early 2011. Henry Mall will again be a staging area for the construction teams. Hopefully, this landmark will be left undisturbed for awhile after we are finished. Expect regular updates as the construction moves into high gear next year.