UWM Pavilion

3409 N. Downer Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53211
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The Pavilion officially opened its doors to the public in January of 2006 and the building was officially dedicated by Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle and UWM Chancellor Carlos Santiago on May 2, 2006.

Among the new athletics facilities in the building are offices for coaches and staff, a student-athlete-only weight room, new locker rooms for all teams and team rooms and lounges for men's basketball, women's basketball and women's volleyball.

UWM student-athletes are also benefitting from the brand-new sports medicine center in the Pavilion, which more than triples the previous space available for UWM's athletic trainers. The facility also includes a 2,800-square-foot academic assistance center to help student-athletes in the classroom. The new academic center includes a computer lab along with group and individual study and tutoring rooms. A 618-space indoor parking garage is also part of the facility.

UWM's general student population is also benefitting tremendously from the new facility. A new fitness center has expansive rooms for cardio workouts, as well as a weight room. The state-of-the-art area is the most visible from the outside of the facility, as it features two levels of windows. The new recreation center has two expansive levels and houses four sport courts surrounded by a suspended 1/8 mile track. The facility is utilized by individuals seeking open gym space, run and walk space on the track, and the University's intramural programs.

The building also includes academic facilities for the College of Health Sciences along with accommodations for the new Physical Therapy and expanded Sports Medicine programs.

The $40 million project, which broke ground in June of 2003, came in below budget due to a favorable bidding climate. Half of the funding is coming from UWM parking fees, while the other half is from state funds and student segregated fees. The athletic department has also undertaken a variety of fundraising efforts for even greater enhancements within its space in the facility.

The most distinctive feature of the 135,000-gross-square-foot Pavilion is the extensive use of glass "walls," creating a feeling of openness and allowing expansive views of nearby Downer Woods and the campus.

Architects for the project were Venture Architects of Milwaukee, a joint venture of Kahler Slater Architects and the Zimmerman Design Group. They emphasize that placement and tinting of windows, called "cool daylighting," not only allows a wash of daylight inside while reducing energy needs.