I had already designated a gift for the University in my estate, but I looked at the Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust as a win-win. The University gets the money and I get income.

Wendy Beneviste (’73 BS Retailing), who created the Wendy L. Benveniste Faculty Excellence Fund, to benefit SoHE

3M and 3M Foundation Make $1.6 Million Gift to UW-Madison Engineering Building

Contact: Jim Beal
Contact Phone: (608) 263-0611
Release Date: 11/09/05

Madison , WI-- 3M Community Giving, the charitable arm of 3M, has announced a $1.6 million gift toward a renovated and expanded Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Building at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The gift will take the form of $1.4 million in cash and $200,000 in 3M multimedia projectors for the building. In recognition of the contribution, the university will name the main lecture hall The 3M Auditorium.

“This generous gift to the College of Engineering reflects 3M’s commitment to innovation,” says College of Engineering Dean Paul S. Peercy. “The new Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Building will have the facilities and resources to conduct research and educate engineers in a new age of discovery.”

The project will update the Mechanical Engineering Building, constructed in 1930 around a then-existing machine shop, “the Sawtooth.” To create a facility for 21st century engineering in the pre-World War II building, the University has demolished the Sawtooth structure and will replace it with a new, four-story addition for academic and research programs, as well as a fifth floor that will house the mechanical systems and a basement containing heavy-duty laboratories.

“This project at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is in keeping with our tradition of giving, which targets science, engineering and business education -- disciplines important to society and technology companies like 3M,” said Barbara Kaufmann of 3M. “Facilities are one part of the education experience, and we are pleased to support this endeavor, which will advance teaching and learning opportunities for faculty and students.”
The existing building will be completely renovated. Electrical and data infrastructure will be brought up to date, a new central heating-ventilation-air conditioning system will be installed and a new elevator will make the building more accessible to people with disabilities. The historic limestone façade will be preserved, and a new main entrance will be created on Engineering Drive.

The 3M Auditorium will be a 3,045-square-foot lecture hall with 159 seats. It will feature multimedia and will be capable of originating and receiving satellite video transmissions. The 3M Auditorium will be used for classes and college-wide meetings, seminars and other functions.

This gift is part of the UW Foundation’s Create the Future: The Wisconsin Campaign.