Whitewater Innovation Center
Dedication of Johnson Display and
New Wet Labs Open House
November 18th
The Warren Johnson tribute display at the Whitewater Innovation Center was installed on October 13. Warren Johnson, the founder of one of Wisconsin's largest companies, Johnson Controls, and the inventor of the thermostat, was a professor in the 1870's and 1880's at the Whitewater State Normal School, the predecessor of today's UW-Whitewater. Dr. Johnson was truly an entrepreneur and innovator (probably the most prominent in Whitewater's history).
Construction of the wet laboratories at the Innovation Center was also completed this week. Of the four new labs totaling 2,500 square feet, two will be occupied by University-related start-up business ventures with the other two available for lease immediately.
A dedication of the Johnson Tribute display as well as an open house to showcase the Innovations Center's new laboratories will be held beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, November 18th.
Innovation Center Receives LEED Gold Certification; Center Also to Receive Wisconsin Builds Award
The Whitewater Innovation Center has achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. The Innovation Center's final LEED rating reflects 39 documented and approved points, which corresponds to the gold certification level under the LEED for New Construction rating system.
Kevin Brunner, Whitewater City Manager, received a letter this week from S. Richard Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair of the U.S. Green Building Council, congratulating the City, Community Development Authority and UW-Whitewater on this achievement. The letter from Mr. Fedrizzi says in part that "LEED certification identifies the Whitewater Innovation Center as a pioneering example of sustainable design and demonstrates your leadership in transforming the building industry. In honor of this impressive achievement and in appreciation of your participation in LEED, we are pleased to provide you with the enclosed certificates recognizing your accomplishment."
The LEED for new construction rating system is designed to guide and distinguish high performance commercial and institutional projects including office buildings, high rise residential buildings, government buildings, recreational facilities, manufacturing plants and laboratories. The Gold designation is the second highest designation behind Platinum that is made by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Also, the Whitewater Innovation Center will be the recipient of a "Wisconsin Builds" award from the Associated General Contractors Association of Wisconsin (AGC). J.P. Cullen, the general contractor for the Innovation Center project, nominated the building for this award. More details on the award will be released in the near future.
Eppstein Uhen Architects are also entering the Innovation Center in the annual ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) awards program. It is held in March of next year and submissions are due December 2nd.