Winner: Education, Healthcare & Public

UW Milwaukee’s new 163,000 square foot chemistry building is a key contributor to the university’s R1 designation for research excellence. The building has lecture and study spaces; in the form of new laboratories that integrate teaching, with efficiencies in design that make collaborative research easier.

The project started in the spring of 2022. Since then, over 12,000 yards of concrete have been placed. The five 1,600-yard concrete decks utilize a 24-inch pan deck system with a 6-inch topping slab.

This unique building technique enhances the stability of the structure. The decks were broken into 2 placements, each requiring 25 finishers and 13 hours to complete. 8,000 psi concrete was used for the columns to support the massive decks.

Post tension technology was used in the construction of the beams, allowing for less columns and more open space. The second floor features a 96-foot mega beam with 20,000 pounds of rebar, 80 post tension cables, and 500,000 pounds of concrete. A self-consolidating concrete mix was used to ensure flow in the beam.

The research facility is used by over 5,000 students annually and will serve UWM for decades to come.