With a total of $11 million in overall costs needing to be cut from the project, the work groups continue to review solutions. The original study and subsequent RFP failed to include costs for both a modern loading dock for the building and for new freezers and coolers needed for the Dairy Plant. UW-Madison has agreed to provide $1.2 million in funding to cover these elements not included in the original project.

Work continues on reducing the proposed equipment budget, currently at $12.5 million, to the original project budget of $6.6 million. The team also continues to review designs that will reduce square footage and therefore reduce the construction budget. Priority is being given to programming space for dairy manufacturing and research over public and shared spaces in these deliberations.

Milestone date: September 8, 2016