University of Wisconsin-Madison’s College of Engineering announced Tuesday that Philip A. Levy Engineering Center received a $25 million donation from alums and donors John and Tasia Morgridge, pushing fundraising efforts closer to the building’s initial goal of $150 million.
The new engineering building was approved for construction by Gov. Tony Evers in 2024 after a long stand-off between UW officials and the legislature in hopes of expanding the college to educate about 1,000 additional undergraduates in engineering.
This is not the Morgridges’ first gift. The couple have consistently supported new facilities at their alma mater for decades.
“Our first check to UW was for $5 in 1967,” John said in a 2005 commencement speech.
Since then, the Morgridges’ gifts have founded the Morgridge Center for Public Service (1996), launched the Morgridge Institute for Research (2004), created an endowment to launch the Fund for Wisconsin Scholars (2007), invested in faculty with UW-Madison’s largest single contribution at the time of $100 million (2014) and opened Morgridge Hall with a lead commitment of $125 million for the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences (2021).
Philip A. Levy Hall, named by brothers and alumni Marvin and Jeffrey Levy in memory of their older brother Phil, is set to have equal space for both learning and research within its seven stories.
This project marks the third time the university constructed a new engineering building over the past 60 years to meet demand. The university says it currently only has space to educate about one-tenth of all applicants to the engineering school.
“This combination is a win for our students who want to pursue an engineering education, for Wisconsin employers who are urgently asking for well-educated engineers, and for all who benefit from our pioneering faculty research,” Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin said in a 2025 press release.
Philip A. Levy Hall is set to open in 2028.
