Building Excellence:
Wisconsin MBA Has a New Home
A four-story addition—designed to foster interaction and collaboration among Wisconsin MBA students—is open for business.
The Wisconsin MBA is housed in a new $40.5 million east wing of Grainger Hall that opened Fall 2008.
The addition is:
- Designed specifically for the career specialization model of the Wisconsin MBA.
- Offers enhanced space for networking, team meetings and other uses for each career specialization.
- Provides student-friendly gathering spaces and common areas.
- Incorporates new technology.
- Enhances student interaction with alumni and other business leaders who visit the school.
- Meets or exceeds standards for sustainability.
Wisconsin Enterprise MBA programs, designed to meet the needs of working professionals, also will be housed in the new wing. Evening MBA and Executive MBA classes and student services will be offered in the addition.
Michael Knetter, dean of the Wisconsin School of Business, said having a state-of-the art facility will help the school attract top students and make the school more appealing to recruiters from companies who hire its graduates. The other major benefit, according to Knetter, is that the enhanced space will “strengthen the already strong community we have among our students, faculty and staff, alumni and other leaders in business.”
The original section of the building benefits from having much-needed space freed up for a variety of uses. Undergraduate services and programs have been centralized. Additional space is now available for the school’s PhD program.
The addition is possible due to a $20 million gift from The Grainger Foundation. Classrooms in the building were made possible by a gift from Jeffrey J. Diermeier, BBA ’74, MBA ’75, and Julie Diermeier. Daniel Huber, BBA ’58, and Pat Huber, provided a gift for a new undergraduate computer lab. Additional gift funds and $10 million in general fund-supported borrowing will complete the project budget.
Grainger Hall opened in 1993.
Media coverage of the addition:
Wisconsin School of Business’ Grainger Hall Addition almost done (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
New UW-Madison business school wing to open with fall classes (Wis.Business.com)
Fast Facts
131,416 sq. ft. Addition to Grainger Hall
- 10 state-of-the-art classrooms
- 19 breakout/meeting rooms
- A unique multi-purpose Plenary Room
- Office and student space for the career specializations that make up the Wisconsin MBA
- Locker/changing/personal storage area for MBA students
- MBA Career Center
- MBA Program Office
- MBA student recreation lounge
- MBA student organizations office
- Upgraded office space and classrooms for Enterprise MBA programs
- Lounge and work space for alumni and friends visiting, lecturing and recruiting at the school
- Dean's Office
- The Capital Cafe
- Undergraduate student organization offices and lounge
- Copy center
- Expanded courtyard and outdoor seating
- Indoor water wall by artist Athena Tacha
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