Wisconsin campus building set for demo

The demolition of a four-story college dormitory building on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater campus has been scheduled after attempts to find a method of renovation have not been deemed viable by the university.

S.A. White Hall was built in 1963 and as has served as a residence hall through most of its existence. More recently, the building has been used for academic offices, student support services and storage, according a report from the Royal Purple website.

A photo of the building accompanying the Royal Purple report shows a rectangular-shaped four-story building with a brick exterior.

A White Hall demolition fact sheet posted to the UW-Whitewater website puts a $1.4 million price tag on the demolition project, with another $380,000 budgeted as a contingency fee.

“White Hall is beyond its useful life and is no longer needed,” the UW-Whitewater Department of Facilities Management says in the fact sheet.

The department indicates that previous requests to renovate or bring the facility up to code for occupancy have been denied and White Hall now is vacant.

“White Hall is a relic 1960s-era university building originally constructed as a traditional residence hall (double occupancy rooms, double loaded corridors), with virtually no ventilation other than operable windows," the university says.

“Demolition of this facility will also open up prime green space for future facility use."

According to Royal Purple, demolition work is scheduled to start next May, with substantial completion scheduled for September 2026.

“Because the building did not meet building codes and the Division of Facilities Development would not allow us to renovate, the building sat vacant and continued to deteriorate. The only option was to demolish," UW-Whitewater facilities department employee Chad Ahrens tells Royal Purple.

Ahrens says one potential plan involves erecting an academic or student services building, but says that redevelopment idea is in its very early stages.