UW-River Falls Opens $117M STEM Center for Students

Students at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls stepped into the future Monday when they entered their new $117 million Science and Technology Innovation Center for the first day of classes. Sophomore physics major Teagan Gazdzik summed up the excitement: "This is amazing."

The building, called SciTech, took two years to design and two and a half years to build. Chief Facilities Officer Alan Symicek says the facility was built to adapt to changing technology for the next 100 years.

Energy conservation drives every feature of the modern building. But what really stands out are the interior windows that let anyone walking the hallways peek into labs and classrooms where science is happening in real time.

"The theme of the building is science on display," Symicek said. "We want people to be able to walk down the corridor, see what's going on in rooms and get excited about it."

SciTech houses 32 undergraduate research spaces and 12 instructional labs for biology, chemistry, physics and psychological sciences. The flexible collaboration spaces were designed so faculty and students can work together on breakthrough research.

For Gazdzik, who came to River Falls from St. Cloud, Minnesota specifically for its science programs, the new building makes his choice feel even better. He'll spend most of his semester in SciTech, starting with his 8 a.m. Math for Physics and Engineering II class.

The facility also includes the new University Business Collaboration Center, designed to connect students and faculty with companies working in STEM fields. That means students will have more opportunities to apply their learning to real-world problems before they even graduate.

The Ripple Effect

The project became possible thanks to community support, including a $1 million lead gift from alumni Jeff and Kristi Cernohous. Donations from supporters totaled $5 million toward the $117 million facility.

Karl Peterson, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, says the building gives exceptional teachers the modern tools they need. "This facility supports the kind of collaborative, inquiry-driven teaching that defines UWRF, ensuring our students are challenged, supported and inspired every day," he said.

The university plans a grand opening celebration on March 31 where the community can tour the new facility and see science education reimagined. What happens in those classrooms and labs could shape discoveries and innovations that benefit everyone for generations to come.