Morgridge Hall University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA higher education building, WI architecture photos

Morgridge Hall at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA

February 18, 2026

Design: LMN and Kahler Slater

Location: Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America

Photos: Bruce Damonte

Morgridge Hall, University of Wisconsin–Madison Building

LMN and Kahler Slater proudly announce the completion of Morgridge Hall at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This landmark facility ushers in a new era for interdisciplinary research and education, serving as the new home for the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences and uniting computing and data-related disciplines on campus for the first time.

Morgridge Hall is the result of a shared vision between the University and alumni John and Tashia Morgridge, designed to spark collaboration across disciplines and drive innovative solutions to global challenges. The building is organized around a central, daylight-filled atrium known as “the heart”—a vibrant, open space that serves as the unifying element of the design. This welcoming environment is emblematic of Morgridge Hall’s commitment to inclusivity, encouraging interaction and collaboration among students, faculty, and researchers.

“Morgridge Hall redefines what an academic building can be—uniting data, computation, and information sciences in a vibrant, sustainable environment that fosters collaboration and discovery. Every aspect of the design, from the daylight-filled heart at its center to the flexible research and learning ecosystems, is crafted to spark interdisciplinary connections and support the university’s mission of socially conscious innovation while producing and attracting top talent to the region,” said Mark Tumiski, Principal at LMN.

“By integrating biophilic elements, public art, and advanced energy strategies, Morgridge Hall not only honors Wisconsin’s cultural and natural heritage but also sets a new standard for environmental stewardship and human-centered design. As an intellectual lighthouse and resource for the whole university, it’s a physical realization of the ‘Wisconsin Idea’ that the discoveries made on campus must be applied for the good of all of society.”

The building is thoughtfully organized to support three key ecosystems: Learning, Student, and Research. These ecosystems are conceptually linked along a continuous “breadcrumb trail” that flows vertically through the public heart of the building, leading to a variety of thematic hubs on each floor. Flexible ribbons of research labs, offices, and collaboration spaces maximize social engagement and foster cross-disciplinary collaboration, while also providing adaptability to meet the university’s evolving needs. The interior is illuminated from above and below with natural light that changes throughout the seasons, enriching the social experience and creating a dynamic atmosphere.

“Designing a building where people could naturally navigate and enhance their campus experience was essential. Drawing from Wisconsin’s landforms and ecologies, the team designed a building whose form, terracing, and material palette create an experience that feels both natural and deeply rooted in the landscape,” said Chris Ludwig, Senior Designer at Kahler Slater. “Additionally bringing all three departments together under one roof generates meaningful synergies, enhancing their educational approaches and deepening collaboration while expanding future career opportunities for students.”

Morgridge Hall’s open layout includes a café on the first level, inviting the university community in and fostering a sense of common purpose. Every floor features spaces designed to promote connection, from informal social areas to workspaces that encourage spontaneous collaboration. Wellness rooms and terraces provide restorative environments, supporting the building’s commitment to human-centered design and well-being.

Setting a new precedent for sustainable architecture on campus, Morgridge Hall features a high-performance envelope and 359 rooftop solar panels that will produce 162,441 kWh per year—enough to power 182 average Wisconsin households. The building achieves 35% better water use than the federal standard, with a system designed to capture stormwater for plant irrigation. Twenty-five percent of the site area is covered by planted areas, including the courtyard, terraces, and green roof, with 82% of the plant species native to Wisconsin.

Biophilic design principles are woven throughout, with indoor gardens, green walls, and exterior terraces that integrate nature into the user experience. The building is targeting a 63% reduction in energy use compared to the 2030 baseline, setting a new benchmark for campus sustainability.

Public art installations throughout Morgridge Hall—including Clayton Binkley’s “Ghost Forest” and Amanda McCavour’s “Ode to a Prairie”—celebrate Wisconsin’s topography and cultural heritage. Locally inspired art connects the building to its surroundings, telling the stories of the land and its people. Materials and finishes echo the state’s landscapes, with CNC-milled Corian panels mapping the Wisconsin River and interior mosaics inspired by local landscape photography.

The exterior features precast panels of high-performance concrete textured to emulate local geologic features called drumlins and regional woven textiles. The finish palette transitions throughout the building to evoke the distinct seasonality of Wisconsin, from warm autumn and sunset hues in the student ecosystem to the lush greens and blues of summer days on the lake in the research ecosystem.

“Morgridge Hall enables us to remain a world leader in research across our departments while forging new collaborations that leverage computing technologies, advanced data analysis, and key insights from information science—all for the betterment of individuals and society,” said Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau, Director of the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Morgridge Hall is more than just a building—it is a cultural hub for learning and collaborative research, a sustainable space that reflects the values of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and a model for future academic architecture. Its commitment to innovation, sustainability, inclusivity, and the history of the region positions Morgridge Hall as a catalyst for the future of research and education on campus and beyond.

The building opened its doors at the start of the fall semester on September 3, uniting three of the campus’s fastest-growing majors in a dynamic new home. As the new hub for research, education, and outreach in technology, Morgridge Hall brings together the diverse academic units of the School of Computer, Data and Information Sciences for the first time. Each floor offers fresh opportunities for discovery, collaboration, and connection—empowering everyone to shape the future of technology.

Morgridge Hall in Madison, Wisconsin, USA – Building Information

Architecture: LMN – https://lmnarchitects.com/ and Kahler Slater – https://www.kahlerslater.com/

Project Title: Morgridge Hall University of Wisconsin-Madison

Location: 1205 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706
Client: University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Design Years: 2020-2022
Construction Years: 2022-2025
Major Building Materials: Concrete, steel, ultra-high performance concrete panels, and stone

Program:

Interdisciplinary research building combining the departments of Computer Science, Statistics, and Information School. The building includes student spaces, classrooms, offices, dry labs, and support spaces

Site Area: 103,701 SFT.
Total Floor Area: 342,990 SFT.
Building Height: 138 FT.

Number of Floors: 7 stories + Basement, Mezzanine, and Mechanical Penthouse

Notable Sustainability Facts

Daylight atrium with central stairs, courtyard, terraces, and green roofs with planted areas covering 25.8% of the site area, rainwater capture and reuse for indoor flush fixtures and all exterior irrigation, triple paned bird-friendly glazing, targeting LEED Platinum, bike commuting facilities, biophilic design includes indoor planting, designs, and outdoor connections, high performance envelope design, rooftop photovoltaic array, night purge ventilation, 63% energy use reduction from 2030 baseline.

Photography Credit: Bruce Damonte
Publication Drawings: Courtesy LMN

Project Credits

Architect of Record:
Kahler Slater, Inc.
790 N. Water Street, Suite 1700
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

Kahler Slater Project Team:
Riley Atlas
Sandra Balk
Jennifer Buck, AIA
Ed Dueppen, RA
Chris Kline, AIA
Mary LaFrombois
Scott Lousier, AIA
Chris Ludwig, AIA
Jeff Piette, AIA
Nick Romano, RA
Jess Schultz
Joe Schultz, AIA
Peter Sommerfeld

Design Architect:

LMN Architects
801 Second Avenue, Suite 501
Seattle, Washington 98104

LMN Project Team:

John Aldredge
Kjell Anderson, FAIA
Hank Butitta
Michael Day
Jeff Floor, AIA
Cameron Irwin
Tanner Kirchoff, AIA
Mark La Venture, AIA
Susan Lowance, AIA
Vernita Lytle, IIDA
Jessica Miller, AIA
Sam Miller, FAIA
Jennifer Milliron, AIA
Mark Nicol, AIA
Charlotte Pang
Charlotte Phillips
Chris Savage
Huma Timurbanga
Mark Tumiski, AIA
Stephen Van Dyck, AIA
Sunmin Whang, AIA

Structural Engineer: Thornton Tomasetti
Civil Engineer: GRAEF
Landscape Architect: Confluence

Lighting Design: HLB Lighting Design
Plumbing/Fire Protection Engineer: IBC Engineering Services, Inc.
Mechanical/Electrical/Fire Alarm Engineer: Affiliated Engineers, Inc.

AV/IT/Acoustical/Security Engineer: NV5
Environmental Branding/Signage: Kahler Slater, Inc.

Photography: Bruce Damonte

LMN architects

Morgridge Hall, University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA – School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences facility building images / information received 180226

Location: Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America.