CONTACT: Jim Beal, (608) 263-0611, jbeal@engr.wisc.edu
MADISON – 3M Community Giving, the charitable arm of 3M, has announced a $1.6
million gift toward the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Building Project at
the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The gift will take the form of $1.4 million in cash and $200,000 in 3M multimedia
projectors for the building. In recognition of the contribution, the university will
name the main lecture hall The 3M Auditorium.
“This generous gift to the College of Engineering reflects 3M’s commitment to
innovation,” says College of Engineering Dean Paul S. Peercy. “The new Mechanical
Engineering Building will have the facilities and resources to conduct research and
educate engineers in a new age of discovery.”
The project will update the Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Ave.,
which was built in 1930 around a then-existing machine shop called “the Sawtooth.”
To create a 21st century engineering facility within the old building, the
university has demolished the Sawtooth structure and will replace it with a new,
four-story addition for academic and research programs, as well as a fifth floor
that will house the mechanical systems and a basement containing heavy-duty
laboratories.
“This project at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is in keeping with our
tradition of giving, which targets science, engineering and business education –
disciplines important to society and technology companies like 3M,” said Barbara
Kaufmann of 3M. “Facilities are one part of the education experience, and we are
pleased to support this endeavor, which will advance teaching and learning
opportunities for faculty and students.”
The existing building will be completely renovated. Electrical and data
infrastructure will be brought up to date, a new central heating, ventilation and
air conditioning system will be installed and new elevators will make the building
more accessible. The historic limestone facade will be preserved, and a new main
entrance will be created on Engineering Drive.
The 3M Auditorium will be a 3,045-square-foot lecture hall with 149 seats. It will
feature multimedia and will be capable of originating and receiving satellite video
transmissions. The 3M Auditorium will be used for classes and college-wide meetings,
seminars and other functions.
The gift is part of the UW Foundation’s “Create the Future: The Wisconsin Campaign.”
