Plan Approved for UW Dairy Plant Renovation

UW Madison is progressing with plans to renovate what is considered one of the better-known dairy research centers in the country, that some consider an eyesore.

The UW Board of Regents approved a plan that would pay for half of a $75 million initiative to renovate inside Babcock Hall. This includes the university’s Center for Dairy Research and the UW Dairy plant. The plan also includes expanding space for research and teaching. The other half of the funds must be raised from outside sources involved in the dairy and meat processing industries.

Dave Fuhrman is the president and CEO of the Baraboo-based Foremost Farms. He co-chairs a committee that is raising half the money to renovate the Center for Dairy Research that is in Babcock Hall. He says the Center has not been upgraded since the 1950s, so it is showing its age. “It’s in need of dramatic renovations it bad, as a matter of fact it’s kind of embarrassing for the industry to have a facility that’s in the shape that it’s in today.”

The overall project is not a done deal. The state building commission must approve it, and include it in the 2013-2015 state budgets. Funding for the renovation work of Babcock Hall could be split between the next two state biennial budgets.