GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Governor Tony Evers pushed his $96.3 million project proposal to replace the Cofrin Library on the UW-Green Bay campus during a visit on Wednesday.
“The UW Campuses are the economic drivers of the state,” Evers said. “As we come out of the pandemic, we need to Build Back Better with a major investment in technology and higher education.”
“Investing in both is critically important and will help us bounce back faster and better.”
Chancellor Michael Alexander spoke specifically to the need for a new facility.
“Not only is the aging Cofrin Library in major disrepair, it does not reflect the current view of how our future students will receive higher education. With a cost to renovate nearly as much as the cost to replace, the time is right to look to the future and provide the experience we need to serve a growing University,” Alexander said.
The plan would tear down Cofrin and create an academic technology center and administrative facility. Both the governor and school leaders say the current library facility is literally falling apart.
“There’s no fire suppression, it’s not ADA-compliant, there are literally bricks falling off the building that are being held on by metal twist-ties that are rusted. It needs to be replaced,” Alexander said. “We know that we can no longer continue to renovate the building. It just won’t work. It needs to be replaced. We’ll knock this down and put the new building right next to this one…It’ll open up campus and make for a much more open way for the community, faculty, and students to be able to access the campus.”
There are broken windows on the eighth floor that still need to be replaced as well.
Alexander says the cost difference between trying to keep up with renovations and just tearing the place down and putting up the new facility is within about $14 million.
Evers, whose daughter graduated from UW-Green Bay, has been around the campus quite often.
“I’ve visited this facility many times. I’ve wondered for a long time why it still stood,” Governor Evers said. “We’ve been spending money just to maintain a facility that has already reached the end of its useful life. The exterior is falling apart…To put this building into perspective, this building was built while I was an undergrad at UW Madison. I’m still a pretty young guy, but it’s been awhile since I’ve been an undergraduate.”
Governor Tony Evers pushes his budget proposal, which would include over $96 million to replace Cofrin Library on the UW-Green Bay campus. (PHOTO/WTAQ News)
The project is part of the state budget proposal, which was blocked by legislative Republicans last month. Republicans say the capital budget needs to be trimmed down.
“This budget is now in the joint finance committee. So we’re going to need your help to get this funding over the finish line. Simple as that. So I encourage folks to reach out to your legislators and encourage them to support this project,” Evers said. “We have to make this happen. This building can no longer exist on this campus, it is not doing anybody any good from any angle you look at it…There are ongoing costs that are part of the University of Wisconsin system. It’s a huge system that serves hundreds of thousands of students every year.”
Evers noted that his budget proposal contains the largest investment in the UW System in 20 years, including funding the tuition freeze and expanding the Bucky’s promise program for students.
“In addition to our students, our campuses need a whole lot of support, too,” Evers noted.
The Wisconsin State Legislature is considering the building as part of the final 2021-23 Biennial Budget. If approved, the University anticipates that final design will begin immediately.
