Two state building projects out to bid in December

Listen to this article

Two public building projects are out to bid this month in Wisconsin.

The state is seeking general contractors for two projects: an addition and renovation to the future Recreation Complex at the University of Wisconsin-Stout and two building additions to a food service building for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services in Madison. General contractor bid costs were more than $23.7 million and $33.6 million for the projects, respectively, according to the Wisconsin Project Center.

The bid for the fitness center at UW-Stout was created in late October and will close Dec. 17. A bid advertisement for DHS was published in late October, and the bid will close Dec. 16.

In late October, the state Building Commission approved $15 million to plan changes to Department of Corrections facilities. The commission also approved renovations for different state agencies and Universities of Wisconsin System buildings, including the Recreation Complex and food service building, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers‘ office announced.

At UW-Stout, a decommissioned pool will be converted into a new multi-purpose gym and upgraded training areas, which will align the facility with other colleges, officials said. The food service building at the Central Wisconsin Center, a DHS building on the northeast edge of Madison, will serve more than 200 patients with disabilities and staff after renovations, officials added.

Both buildings were built in the 1960s.

UW-Stout recreation complex project will revamp old pool, add to current building

Construction of the Recreation Complex at UW-Stout could begin in 2026 and be complete in 2027, said Justin Utpadel, UW-Stout senior facilities officer, in a news release.

In November, alums Dallas and Edye Pankowski gave a $5 million private gift to the Recreation Complex renovation plan, university officials said. Including the couples’ gift, private support for the project was $7.3 million.

The Sports and Fitness Center at UW-Stout was built in 1963, state officials said. The project calls for an addition on the west side of the facility for new strength training and cardio spaces. The west entrance plaza will be renovated to include outdoor seating and an outdoor fitness patio. A new mechanical penthouse will be included for the addition, officials added.

The Universities of Wisconsin requested authority to start the project for an estimated cost of more than $31.7 million, a state Building Commission agenda showed.

The project calls for 11,750 square feet of new space and 27,658 square feet of renovated space, university officials said.

Interior improvements include a new welcome desk, exercise studios, a multi-purpose court space, new locker rooms for athletic teams, new locker rooms for general students and staff, new locker rooms for visiting teams, offices and a laundry room, officials said.

Additional project work might include asbestos abatement as necessary, officials said. There will be new telecommunication rooms, replacement of fire alarm and smoke detection systems and a new automatic sprinkler system in the building addition, officials added.

Food service building for DHS patients and staff calls for additions, renovations

The Department of Health Services’ Division of Care and Treatment Services operates the Central Wisconsin Center for the Developmentally Disabled in Madison, which services people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, state officials said. The food service building, which has a main kitchen that serves patients and staff, was built in 1960, officials added.

The project will feature a renovation of the food service building and two building additions with a lower level and first floor, officials said. The additions will be around 9,800 square feet and the overall project will be 47,000 square feet, officials added.

DHS requested authority to launch the project for an estimated total cost of more than $44.6 million, a state Building Commission agenda showed.

The new south addition will have a new production kitchen on the first floor and a lower level with a below grade loading dock, officials said. The north addition will improve connection between the staff entry and lower-level locker rooms, officials added.

Meal preparation will continue in the new addition while the building is renovated, officials said. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems will be replaced. Abandoned built-in coolers and freezers will be demolished for storage. The project also calls for repairs to the building envelope, officials added.

Both projects and DOC capital projects were enumerated in the 2025-27 state budget, the governor’s office said.