What will become the University of Wisconsin Superior's flagship academic building took another step toward completion this morning when workers lifted a 110-foot-long truss into place over what will be the main entrance to Swenson Hall.
There were no problems as a crane raised the 15-ton truss -- the largest piece among 600 tons of steel forming the building's frame -- into place about 7:30 a.m. Swenson Hall, the largest construction project in UWS history, is scheduled to be completed early next year.
"They have a second crane in place now that is lifting additional beams that are being connected to the truss," UWS spokesman Al Miller said. "So by the end of the day it will all be secured."
The building is tentatively slated to go into use in fall 2011.
"We're pretty excited about it," Miller said. "It's going to be home to a number of academic departments; we'll have faculty offices in there; the classrooms will be state of the art as far as technology is concerned. It's really going to be our flagship academic building when it is completed."
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When completed, the three-story, 144,000-square-foot building will contain 21 classrooms and labs, offices for eight academic departments and student services.
Ground was broken last spring in the northwest corner of campus for the project, which is on schedule, Miller said. Part of the building's north side has been enclosed in plastic so interior work can proceed during the winter. Inside, workers are performing plumbing and electrical work, building masonry walls and concrete floors. Contractor Howard Immel of Green Bay is building the hall to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards.
The project's cost is $32 million, which includes the costs of razing Sundquist and McCaskill halls, and of building a new greenhouse on the end of Barstow Hall. The state is paying for the bulk of the project. Superior natives James and Sue (Locken) Swenson donated $5 million toward the building.
The Swensons grew up in Superior's North End and enrolled at UWS in the mid-1950s. Jim Swenson later transferred to the University of Minnesota Duluth, graduating in 1959 with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. He went on make millions in the computer industry. The couple uses their Swenson Family Foundation to support education.
The UWS building will be the second in the Twin Ports named in honor of James Swenson. The University of Minnesota Duluth opened the James I. Swenson Science Building in 2005, and the UMD College of Science and Engineering bears his name. The Swensons have donated more than $21 million to UMD.
