14 Nov 3M donates $1.6 million to UW-Madison engineering building
Madison, Wis. – 3M Community Giving, the charitable arm of 3M, has announced a $1.6 million gift toward the UW-Madison Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Building Project.
The gift will take the form of $1.4 million in cash and $200,000 in 3M multimedia projectors for the building. In recognition of the contribution, the university will name the main lecture hall The 3M Auditorium.
The project will update the Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Ave., which was built in 1930 around a then-existing machine shop called “the Sawtooth.” To create a modern facility within the old building, the university has demolished the Sawtooth structure and will replace it with a new, four-story addition for academic and research programs, as well as a fifth floor that will house the mechanical systems and a basement containing heavy-duty laboratories.
The existing building will be completely renovated. Electrical and data infrastructure will be brought up to date, a new central heating, ventilation and air conditioning system will be installed and new elevators will make the building more accessible. The historic limestone facade will be preserved, and a new main entrance will be created on Engineering Drive.
The 3M Auditorium will be a 3,045-square-foot lecture hall with 149 seats. It will feature multimedia and will be capable of originating and receiving satellite video transmissions. The 3M Auditorium will be used for classes and college-wide meetings, seminars and other functions.