Government Relations
UW System Position on Bills Introduced in the Legislature During the 2009-2010 Session
Pending Legislation
AB 698
Full Description
(Hixson/Robson) This bill amends the 2009-11 Authorized State Building Program to add one project for the University of Wisconsin System. The project consists of a renovation of Carlson Hall at UW-Whitewater. The project is financed with $17,000,000 in existing general fund supported borrowing authority.
Carlson Hall was constructed in 1972. It has never undergone a major renovation, though many small scale remodeling projects have been done within the building. Until the completion of Hyland Hall in July 2009, Carlson Hall served as the center for the College of Business and Economics.
This project will renovate Carlson Hall to consolidate the College of Letters and Sciences into one facility from four separate buildings that have inadequate space. Work will include demolition of walls and building systems; construction of office and laboratory spaces within this same area and replacement of the deteriorating air handling unit, cooling coils, outside air dampers, HVAC distribution fans, and pneumatic HVAC controls. ADA, plumbing, electrical upgrades and abatement of minor amounts of asbestos will be included as part of the scope of work.
UW System Position
SUPPORT: This bill permits UW-Whitewater to renovate a currently vacant building and create one facility for the College of Letters and Sciences. Updating Carlson Hall while it is vacant is the most cost-effective approach, avoiding conflicts and disruptions to occupants of the building.
This project was previously approved by the UW System Board of Regents as a part of the 2009-11 Capital Budget Request. Based on initial budgets, the amount of General Fund Supported Borrowing (GFSB) available at that time did not allow for this project to move forward. However, construction bids for other UW projects have been lower than the budgeted amounts, which would permit this project to be fully funded within the GFSB authority already allocated to the UW System for the 2009-11 Biennium. As such, there is no fiscal impact to the UW System from the addition of the Carlson Hall Renovation project.
This project will have important economic benefits for the State of Wisconsin. In the near term, it will create and sustain local construction jobs. Over the longer term, the improved educational facilities will help UW prepare more college-educated workers for success in the innovation economy.