Construction on the second research park at the University of Wisconsin will expand the success of the first park and add 8,000 jobs to the Madison community, UW officials said Tuesday.
University Research Park 2 will be constructed approximately three miles south of the original research park, encompassed by Mineral Point, Pleasant View and Highway M.
Though mass grading to level the massive construction site has only just begun, UW is anticipating the benefits of new research spaces, particularly the new research opportunities the expanded location will afford.
Greg Hyer, associate director for University Research Park, said the new park would be approximately twice the size of the existing park and of a “new urbanism” model.
According to Hyer, this model varies most notably by its use of available space, which will contain roughly double the space of the current facilities on nearly the same amount of acreage.
He said the park is an enhancement and a continuation of the original area. Those who work there will be making twice the average salary in comparison to other Wisconsinites in the field.
“The project will offer significant employment opportunities and interesting science jobs for graduates,” Hyer said. “It will help keep the sciences in Wisconsin and will certainly have an impact on the Madison and state economies.”
A unique feature of the new research park will allow for the construction of mixed-use buildings consisting of shops and condos to create an appearance similar to the downtown area but still closely connected to the lab space.
He added when the original research park was developed in the mid-1980s, these areas of commerce were already present and the lack of significant development in the new location allows for these opportunities.
Chris Petykowski, principal engineer for the city of Madison, said efforts to construct infrastructure are underway, including the beginning of construction on new roads.
Though this is only preliminary step in what will be an extensive process, Petykowski said construction on the first set of lots would begin after winter in early 2011.
He said construction of the some 4 million square feet of laboratory and technology space will begin in 2012.
Many of the occupants of the commercialized research facilities will be companies founded from research and technology originally created or improved on the UW campus, Hyer said.
One dominant area of research at the original University Research Park is the emerging biotechnology field, though UW officials hope to diversify the areas of research represented in the new facilities, Hyer said.
Ald. Paul Skidmore, District 9, said the project has been developing and on the minds of city officials since before he was elected nearly ten years ago.
He said because the new research park would occupy 254 acres in his aldermanic district, the effects of the project on local residents were carefully considered.
“It’s going to generate a lot of jobs and a lot of traffic, and we’re working to accommodate that,” he said. “It’s also going to generate a lot of tax base. It’s a good thing for the district.”
