Campus Plan History

Long Range Physical Development Planning has been an important part of the of the University since it was founded in 1956. As stewards of the Plan, we use and integrated planning model to facilitate and implement long-term planning that supports the mission, goals and strategic plan. This history of collaboration began with the 1956 President of UW-Madison Edwin Broun Fred, the President of the Board of Regents, A. Matt Werner, and our first Chancellor, J. Martin Klotsche. We have implemented portions of the 2010 Campus Plan, 2014 Northwest Quadrant Redevelopment Plan and 2015 Southwest Quadrant Redevelopment Plan. These and future plans will continue to enhance UW-Milwaukee as a vitally important academic institution.


Long Range Physical Development Plans of UW-Milwaukee
History of a Changing Campus

When the Wisconsin State Legislature established the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1956 as a merger between the Milwaukee State Teachers College and the University of Wisconsin, the site selection process for the new University revolved around the existing UW location in the central business district, the existing Downer Avenue location residential neighborhood on the upper east side, or a new location that would require acquiring land on the County Grounds in Wauwatosa. The Kenwood campus on the upper east side, as it would come to be known, recognized the value of the neighborhood character and benefits of access to non-campus housing and proximity to the lakefront, cultural, recreational and employment resources.

Periodically, we have engaged outside firms alongside Campus Planning to review development and expansion for new schools, building types and spaces for students to gather. The selected campus site became the subject of the first Campus Plans, in the form of two reports, a Zone Plan and a Sketch Plan, prepared in 1960; these ideas were expanded in the 1960 report and in a 1965 follow-up plan. In 1972, the firm Caudhill Rowlett Scott prepared a Campus Planning Workbook and Phase I of a plan to re-establish UWM’s mission.

These formal efforts to address changes in student demographics, the city context and the quality and condition of buildings on campus started with ambitious regularity and have since taken on more long-term capital development goals.  Each Campus Plan strives to resolve space issues driven by student enrollment, the need for public parking & transportation, and concepts for a welcoming campus in a pleasant neighborhood setting. They retain the initial goal of creating a world class urban University.

UWM has expanded its urban presence by establishing outposts for specialized education at Continuing Education,  Joseph P. Zilber School of Public Health, School of Freshwater Sciences, Global Water Institute, and Innovation Campus.

Master Plans and Studies (1960-Present):