The Wisconsin Institute for Discovery held a preview Tuesday to explain the creator's goals and showcase the new building's facilities before the grand opening Dec. 2.
George Austin, Project Manager for The Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, said one of the main purposes of the building is to lessen the gaps between science and the general public.
The idea is to create interactive spaces for collaboration between scientists and the public within a research building that will be relevant to science as it changes over time, Austin said.
Interim Director of Wisconsin Institute for Discovery and former UW-Madison Chancellor, John Wiley, said, ""It will be a public space for science, a place for everybody to come and feel welcome by engaging in science and learning.""
The building consists of the main level, or the ""Town Center,"" which is open to the general public, three research floors, and lower levels.
Laura Heisler, director of programming for W.A.R.F, said many important scientific events are already scheduled to take place in The Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, such as the National Science Olympiad and Science Expeditions.
The Town Center includes a Mesozoic Garden Niche, Aldo's Café, Steenbock's on Orchard as well as other specific conference and resource areas.
Austin said the originality of the floor plan was created to urge researchers and the public to converse and interact with one another.
""The beauty of the design is that as you and I are walking through the town center we will be able to look up into the space and be able to see researchers walking about,"" Austin said. ""… The intent was to de-emphasize a linear floor plan, which doesn't promote people getting out of their spaces and bumping into one another.""
Wiley highlighted the different research that will take place in the new facility.
""It will be systems biology, epigenetics, computer optimization, tissue engineering and home health-care delivery,"" said Wiley.
Austin said the building is largely energy efficient.
""The W.A.R.F. board of trustees challenged the design to make a building that will use 50 percent less energy and 50 percent less water,"" Austin said. ""We are going to achieve that level of savings on this facility.""
