MADISON, Wis. (WSAU) —
The University of Wisconsin Stevens Point’s proposed new science and biology building will be built. The Wisconsin Building Commission gave three projects a green light Wednesday, and that was one of them.
Governor Scott Walker says, “Today the Building Commission has made decisions that show we are being good stewards of taxpayer resources. I would like to thank Building Commission members for taking action on these projects, which save taxpayers money and improve state facilities all across Wisconsin.”
The approval means UW Stevens Point can proceed with their contractors and designers, and finalize plans and make a construction schedule.
The new science and biology facility will be built on land next to the existing science building, on what is now Parking Lot X. University and City of Stevens Point officials are working on ways to deal with parking issues that will only get worse with the closing of Lot X.
The other projects approved by the Wisconsin Building Commission were upgrades to the Wild Rose Fish Hatchery to expand walleye production, and a new lease for the Department of Health Services, which will save taxpayers nearly $470,000 dollars.
The University of Wisconsin System is facing possible cuts of 300-million dollars in this biennial budget, but building projects such as UWSP’s Science Building are funded through a different mechanism and are not affected by those proposed cuts.
