UWM School of Architecture and Urban Planning Announces Major Gift
Robert Greenstreet, Dean of UWM’s School of Architecture and Urban Planning, announced today that UWM received a $500,000 gift to support the Historic Preservation Institute (HPI), which is housed within the School. Philanthropists David and Julia Uihlein made the donation to UWM to enhance the work of the Institute, which advances building preservation and heritage protection through academic coursework and community preservation activities.
“This transformational gift will vastly expand HPI’s ability to address key Milwaukee preservation challenges. By funding students and interns who will work directly with the City’s Historic Preservation office, the effectiveness and profile of that office will be elevated. By providing direct services in the research and evaluation of building development projects, the Institute will be a high-profile contributor connecting planned development to the preservation community. David and Julia believe in the importance of preservation studies and research, and I couldn’t be happier they’ve demonstrated their commitment by investing in our School,” said Greenstreet.
The gift will help fund a graduate level historic preservation design studio, which will focus on the challenges of retaining key historic buildings and neighborhoods in Milwaukee as well as other projects of importance in Milwaukee. Professor Matt Jarosz is the director of the Historic Preservation Institute at SARUP, and will lead that studio effort with yearly documentation and design intervention proposals.
“Retaining and adaptively reusing existing historic buildings is becoming a fundamental component of architectural education. SARUP, through the work of the HPI over the past 10 years, is working hard to provide students with an education in the effective and economical reuse of existing buildings,” Jarosz said. “National and global trends continue to reinforce the proposition that for many decades to come, building re-use will account for a considerable amount of work in professional architectural firms. “
This grant will significantly elevate our educational resources. The city of Milwaukee will serve as our laboratory of study in building documentation, historic research, re-use design proposals, and studies in the economics of heritage retention. We feel that both the products our academic work, as well as our student interns themselves, will be an important tool for the city and the many people and groups engaged in the struggle to retain our unique heritage”.
“We continue to be impressed with the trajectory of UWM’s School of Architecture and Urban Planning. Our contribution to this program is a great investment in historic preservation in the community,” said Uihlein. We hope that others will join us in supporting this world-class School. Dean Greenstreet and his colleagues will need tremendous resources to realize their vision of maintaining and enhancing UWM’s influence on preservation and planning.”
David Uihlein is the President of Uihlein-Wilson Architects, an architectural practice that is well known for its award winning preservation work. He chairs the David & Julia Uihlein Charitable Foundation with his wife Julia Uihlein.
