UW-Madison Interim Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Michael Lehman invited key stakeholders to a meeting on Wednesday, Aug 3, 2016 to review options for moving the project forward in scope and within budget. Vice Chancellor Lehman reported to the group that, when the project was reviewed and approved at the 35% design stage in late 2015, there were no signs of the scope exceeding the budget. Yet, today the project is estimated to be $11 million in excess of that scope.  He reassured the group that all options will be considered to determine how to reduce this expanded scope to fulfill the original project intent that was presented to donors and the many review boards that approved the project.

He also announced next steps for the project:

• Rusty Bishop and Lyle Clem agreed to represent the stakeholders group at upcoming design review and planning meetings.
• A stakeholder phone-in meeting will be scheduled for noon on Monday (August 8) to provide an update on the August 5 planning meeting.
• The full group will be invited to participate in a call/meeting within 30 days of the August 3 meeting. A high level re-design that meets budget constraints will be presented and additional input will be gathered. If specific options are not available at that time, we will still have the meeting and explain what trade-offs are holding up finalization.

Milestone date: August 3, 2016