The Wisconsin State Building Commission has approved approximately $185 million in construction funding for projects across the state, advancing major investments in corrections reform, military infrastructure and university facilities.
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Among the largest approvals is $130 million for a new Type 1 juvenile correctional facility in Fitchburg, a project aligned with Gov. Tony Evers’ long-term plan to close the aging Lincoln Hills School for Boys and Copper Lake School for Girls. The new facility will house up to 40 youth — 32 boys and eight girls — and mirrors a similar Type 1 facility currently under construction in Milwaukee that is scheduled for completion in late 2026.
According to commission documents, the Fitchburg project was authorized under the state’s 2025–27 budget and represents a key step in Wisconsin’s broader correctional modernization effort. Once completed in late 2028, the new Dane County facility will allow the state to shutter Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake in early 2029. Those properties are expected to be converted into a 500-bed, medium-security adult correctional facility in the years ahead.
“Closing Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake schools and getting our kids closer to home and the support systems they rely on has been our prerogative since day one, and I’m thrilled to see our administration and members of this Commission take another important step in getting this done and done right,” Evers said in a statement. “In addition, today, members also improved various projects to support operations at our state agencies and university system, and I’m glad to see support for these projects move forward.”
The commission’s action follows earlier approvals tied to corrections planning. In October, members authorized $15 million to begin planning changes at six Department of Corrections facilities statewide, including the eventual closure of Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake in Irma — institutions that date back to the early days of Wisconsin statehood.
Federal scrutiny has also shaped the state’s urgency. In 2015, the Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake facilities were investigated by federal officials over harsh conditions, and recent reports have highlighted multiple inmate deaths at other aging correctional facilities, including Waupun Correctional Institution.
Beyond corrections, the commission approved funding for several additional projects. The Department of Military Affairs received more than $6.49 million to complete the fourth phase of the Milwaukee Readiness Center drill hall. Meanwhile, the University of Wisconsin System secured over $7.39 million for roof and plaza deck waterproofing repairs at UW–Green Bay as part of a broader facilities maintenance initiative.
Together, the approved projects reflect the state’s effort to modernize long-neglected infrastructure while addressing safety, compliance and long-term operational needs across corrections, higher education and military facilities.
Originally reported by Ethan Duran, BridgeTower Media in Finance - Commerce.
