With the announcement last week of the construction of a $375 million-stem cell research facility and the planned overhaul of the east side of the UW-Madison campus, companies are finding that investing in campus construction can be a lucrative proposition.
Take the additions to Camp Randall, for instance. Of the nearly $104 million it took to renovate the stadium, local contractor J.P. Cullen & Sons of Janesville, Wis., received a $78 million contract from the university.
How do companies win university contracts? Al Fish, UW-Madison's associate vice chancellor of facilities planning and management, said the bidding process is generally lengthy and is run through the state government.
\There's a competition for architects when we're in the design phase and then there's usually a bid or competition to select a contractor,"" Fish explained.
Bidding is completed through the Web site of the Division of State Facilities. Bidding is in progress for a planned electrical service upgrade to Weeks Hall on campus, and was just completed on a wide variety of projects, ranging from the $83 million planned microbial sciences building to the $200,000 Elizabeth Waters laundry room.
Other major projects in the works include the West Campus Cogeneration Power Plant on the west side of campus, a project costing nearly $180 million, and the reconstruction of the Crew House on Lakeshore path, which cost $8.35 million and is set to begin operations January 2005. Madison Gas & Electric is building the power plant, while Miron Construction of Neenah, Wis., contracted the Crew House.
Findorff, the Madison-based company which built the Overture Center at 201 State St., also has projects on campus, including a new clinic at the UW Hospital.
There is ""quite a lengthy list"" of upcoming bids for campus construction, Fish said, including the planned dormitory on Park and Dayton Streets.
