The 2027-29 Capital Budget recommendations are designed to align with the Universities of Wisconsin 2023-28 Strategic Plan. This includes a commitment to stewardship of existing assets by addressing deferred maintenance; removing obsolete facilities; maintaining affordable, accessible and high-quality educational environments for our students; and advancing Wisconsin’s workforce needs. The proposed Capital Plan reflects core values of the strategic plan by ensuring that projects include measures such as innovation (by promoting flexibility and adapting to changing conditions), sustainability (ensuring fiscally prudent and environmentally friendly projects), and accountability (ensuring that our universities implement projects in a timely fashion within established budgets).
2027-29 Biennial Capital Budget Request Recommendation
The proposed 2027-29 Biennial Capital Budget Request places greatest emphasis on the repair, renovation, and renewal of aging facilities and infrastructure. The highest-priority programs are designed to address deferred maintenance needs and preserve the long-term viability of existing facilities.
There are 73 Projects and Programs included in the 2027-29 Biennial Budget recommendation as well as funding for the planning and design phases of 12 projects and programs.
| Total | GFSB | PRSB | UW CASH | NON-UW CASH | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027-29 | $2,024,190,000 | $1,224,832,000 | $673,299,000 | $10,978,000 | $115,081,000 |
The proposed 2027-29 Biennial Capital Budget Request includes 19 categorical enumerations for the Instructional Space Program, 17 for the Minor Facilities Renewal Projects Program Groups One, 15 for the Minor Facilities Renewal Program Group Two, and 8 for the Central Plant and Utilities Distribution Projects Program. In addition, there are 14 individual project enumerations and 12 planning and design funding projects.
This plan provides for the following distribution by the total cost of work:
- Renovate 9.8 million or 14.3% of the 69 million square feet comprising the Universities of Wisconsin;
- Demolish about 363 thousand square feet,
- Add about 859 thousand new square feet resulting in about 362 thousand net new square feet.
More than half of the UW System’s building inventory was constructed between 1950 and 1979, and a large proportion of that inventory has had little renovation or upgrade since its inception. Twenty-one percent of the overall inventory is rated in moderate or poor condition regarding functionality and condition assessment.
The proposed projects have undergone feasibility assessments and it was determined that new construction is reasonable because the existing facilities:
- are obsolete functionally, physically outdated, and approaching the end of useful life.
- are unable to be renovated to meet new functional requirements due to existing floor loading or ceiling-to-ceiling heights.
- contain structural systems that are unable to be modified for new modern space configurations; or
- are too costly to renovate due to that cost exceeding 75% of the building’s value.