The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Science Hall will be renovated beginning in 2027 thanks to an $85.2 million gift from alumni and philanthropists John and Tashia Morgridge.
The iconic red-brick building, constructed in 1887, will keep its historic character while adding spaces for learning, research and collaboration. A new GIS (geographic information system) Learning Lab and education center will be added for geospatial learning and research.
The building first housed the College of Letters & Science, and still hosts classes, offices and labs.
“Science Hall shaped how I think about what UW stands for,” John Morgridge said in a statement. “Tashia and I owe a great deal to this university. Our first check to the UW was for $5. Today we have the means to do more, and it is our duty to do it. We hope this investment honors the past while giving the next generation of students and scholars the tools they need to tackle what comes next.”
Science Hall was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1993.
