“Wisconsin must have a well supported second research university. And it must be right here in Milwaukee.”
- Sheldon B. Lubar

The Campaign for UWM, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s initiative to raise money and expand upon its reputation as a research university, has already raised $122 million dollars, over a year ahead of its goal. Chancellor Carlos E. Santiago presented the information to members of the UWM community on Saturday, Nov. 17.

During the same event, Michael J. Cudahy announced he will contribute an unspecified amount of money for the creation of a new UWM College of Engineering and Applied Science building. The new property, which will be named the Michael J. Cudahy Innovation Park, is set to be constructed in Wauwatosa, about 12 miles away from the core UWM campus.

Cudahy, a philanthropist and civic activist, is also a prominent Milwaukee entrepreneur. In 1965, he co-founded Marquette Electronics, Inc., a company that develops and markets health monitoring systems and boasts a worldwide annual sales average of $350 million. In addition to Marquette Electronics, Cudahy also owns Cudahy Towers, a downtown apartment complex originally built in 1907 by his grandfather.

The engineering and research facility will most likely be built on approximately 80 acres of Milwaukee County land near Swan Boulevard. and Highway 45. In order for the new research park to be realized, UWM needs to hire more staff, purchase the property and, finally, construct the actual building.

“The state has given us $3 million in planning, that’s a done deal. The state also has given us $8 million for new faculty, and that’s a done deal,” said David Gilbert, senior adviser to the chancellor. “But we still have to purchase the land, and that is not a done deal.”

Although he said it will be a long process and could take a few years until the building is completed, Gilbert said he sees the process as running smoothly.

“We’ve got nothing but positive feedback,” he said.

The addition of the Michael J. Cudahy Innovation Park is a significant part of Santiago’s plan for UWM, building on its role as a major research center in the state of Wisconsin. According to the UWM Web site, Sheldon B. Lubar said the Campaign for UWM and the new research park is essential for Wisconsin and Milwaukee in specific to be successful.

“Wisconsin must have a well supported second research university,” said Lubar, who donated $10 million for the creation of the Lubar School of Business at UWM. “And it must be right here in Milwaukee.”

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