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UW-Madison unveils new computer sciences building to accommodate student demand

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  Published in Science and Technology on Friday, September 5th 2025 at 6:31 GMT by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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UW‑Madison Unveils a State‑of‑the‑Art Computer Science Complex

On Monday, September 5, 2025, the University of Wisconsin‑Madison opened its doors to the new Parker Computer Science & Engineering Building, a 125‑room, 350‑000‑square‑foot facility that promises to propel the Badger’s research, teaching, and outreach into the next decade. The building, named for long‑time benefactor and former Microsoft executive Paul Parker, was built on the site of the old Science Hall, a campus landmark that had been in use for 75 years.

The official opening ceremony drew a crowd that included university officials, faculty, students, alumni, and representatives from major tech companies that helped fund the project. A ribbon‑cutting by UW‑Madison Chancellor Dr. Maria Lopez was followed by a tour of the campus’s newest high‑tech nerve center. For a detailed virtual tour, the university has posted a video on its official website at [ https://www.wisc.edu/innovation/parks ].

Design and Sustainability

The building is the product of a collaboration between architectural firm Gensler and the university’s own design team. The design emphasizes natural light, flexible lab spaces, and an “open‑concept” layout that encourages collaboration across disciplines. According to the building’s lead architect, Anna Klein, the structure incorporates 25% of the campus’s total energy usage through a combination of photovoltaic panels, geothermal heating, and a smart building management system. The building achieved a LEED Gold certification in the first quarter of 2025, a first for a university research facility in Wisconsin.

A feature that attracted media attention was the “Innovation Atrium,” a 10,000‑square‑foot glass‑roofed hub that connects the main building with adjacent student housing and the university’s library. The atrium hosts rotating exhibitions, hackathons, and public talks that bridge academia with industry.

Academic and Research Facilities

At the heart of the building are the new Computing Core, a 15,000‑square‑foot high‑performance computing cluster that will serve as the backbone for research in artificial intelligence, data science, and bioinformatics. Dr. John Riley, head of the Computer Science Department, noted that the new cluster will bring the university’s computing capacity to the top 5% of U.S. research institutions.

The building also houses a Robotics and Autonomous Systems Lab, featuring a dedicated outdoor testing track and an indoor simulator that can model thousands of scenarios per second. A Cybersecurity Innovation Hub will provide secure environments for training and research on defensive and offensive cyber tactics. The Data Analytics Center includes open‑source and commercial tools for teaching students in data‑driven decision making.

Classrooms are equipped with interactive displays, virtual reality stations, and “smart desks” that adjust ergonomically for each student. The building also offers an Embedded Systems Lab, where students can prototype devices that integrate with the Internet of Things (IoT).

Funding and Partnerships

The $180‑million project was financed through a mix of state appropriations, private donations, and corporate partnerships. According to the university’s finance office, $60 million came from the Wisconsin Board of Regents, while $50 million was raised by alumni and foundations. A substantial $30 million gift came from Parker Foundation, which also set up a endowed faculty chair in Computer Science. The remaining funds were contributed by tech giants Microsoft, Google, and Intel, each of whom will have access to a dedicated research space within the building.

The partnership with Google is especially notable, as the company has agreed to provide training in machine learning for the first cohort of students and to host a yearly “Google Summer of Code” internship program on campus. Intel will contribute a next‑generation Xeon processor line for the building’s HPC cluster.

Impact on Students and the Community

The building’s impact will extend beyond faculty and researchers. Dr. Riley highlighted that the new spaces will support an increase in enrollment from 1,200 to 1,800 students in the Computer Science program over the next five years. A 20‑room Student Innovation Center will allow undergraduates to develop prototypes, pitch to investors, and launch start‑ups with mentorship from faculty and industry partners.

Community outreach is woven into the design. The Public Programming Hall will host free coding workshops for K‑12 students, and a Maker Space will be available to local businesses and residents. The university announced that the building will host the Wisconsin Data Science Conference for the first time in 2026, featuring keynote speeches from leaders in AI ethics, cybersecurity, and climate modeling.

Looking Ahead

Chancellor Lopez emphasized that the new building is a “symbolic and practical step forward.” “This is more than a campus facelift,” she said. “It’s a statement that Wisconsin is a serious contender in the global technology landscape.” The building’s opening is timed to align with UW‑Madison’s 2025 Research Excellence Initiative, which aims to increase grant funding and interdisciplinary research collaborations across the university.

As the campus lights dimmed on the evening of the opening, students and faculty exchanged looks of excitement and anticipation. The Parker Computer Science & Engineering Building stands ready to be the beating heart of innovation, education, and community engagement—an ambitious testament to the university’s commitment to shaping the future of technology and society.