Kohler Foundation provides gift for new engineering building at UW-Madison
For decades, support from Kohler Co. and its entities—including the Kohler Foundation and various trusts—for the University of Wisconsin-Madison has reflected a shared belief that education, innovation, stewardship and the arts can help shape a better future. Built over generations, this relationship has provided scholarships, research, academic programs and facilities that have helped prepare learners for meaningful careers and continuing education.
In recent years, the company pledged financial support to create the Kohler Innovation Visualization Studio in the College of Engineering and established the John Bollinger Chair of Mechanical Engineering. An important Kohler Foundation endeavor is the Kohler Fellow Grant at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery (WID).
That legacy of Kohler support continues with a new instructional laboratory and learning environment within UW-Madison’s College of Engineering. Kohler Foundation is committing a $4 million investment that will name a prominent undergraduate environmental engineering teaching laboratory on the first floor of the university’s new engineering building, the Phillip A. Levy Engineering Center. This 400,000 square-foot building currently is under construction on the engineering campus, and the college is hoping to occupy it in late 2028 and to hold its first classes in the building in spring 2029.
“For decades, UW-Madison and Kohler have shown how ideas rooted in Wisconsin can reach far beyond our state. That is the Wisconsin Idea in action—a partnership grounded here, with the potential to make a difference everywhere,” says Devesh Ranjan, Grainger Dean of the College of Engineering. “This extraordinary investment is a powerful vote of confidence in the future we are building together, and in the students, ideas and innovations with the potential to transform lives, communities and industries.”
Investments such as this create opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience and develop the skills needed to tackle some of society’s most pressing challenges, while also underscoring a longstanding commitment to advance environmental engineering education and strengthen Wisconsin’s position as a center for innovation.
“Our future depends on people who are curious, adaptable and motivated to make a difference. Through this investment, we are helping create opportunities for students to explore new ideas, develop real-world skills and advance the sustainable solutions that our communities and industries will need in the years ahead,” says Laura E. Kohler, global business ambassador for Kohler Co. and board president of the Kohler Foundation. “We believe that investing in environmental education is one of the most meaningful ways we can help shape a better and more sustainable future.”
Kohler Foundation’s financial commitment is driven by the recognition that the challenges facing Wisconsin’s employers require both exceptional talent and bold thinking to foster new ideas and new approaches. By investing in higher education, Kohler helps empower students and researchers to develop the skills and knowledge needed to address those challenges. The result is more than an investment in education. It is an investment in eager contributors, future leaders, innovators and problem-solvers whose work may influence industries and communities for generations.
The investment also reflects a broader and enduring commitment to Wisconsin. Kohler Co. and Kohler Foundation’s philanthropic efforts have embraced a long-term perspective, supporting initiatives that contribute to the state’s economic vitality, educational excellence and quality of life. The new teaching and research resources at UW-Madison’s College of Engineering represent another step in that tradition. They will help attract talented students and faculty, support groundbreaking research and strengthen the educational infrastructure needed to prepare future generations for rapidly evolving industries.
Just as importantly, they send a powerful message about the value of investing in Wisconsin’s future. By supporting institutions such as UW-Madison, Kohler is helping ensure the state remains a leader in engineering, manufacturing, environmental sustainability and innovation.
Support for environmental engineering education also reflects priorities that have long been important to Kohler Co., its entities and the Kohler family. Water stewardship, sustainability and innovation are increasingly interconnected challenges that require both technical expertise and visionary thinking. Whether addressing water security, resource conservation, sustainable manufacturing or resilient infrastructure, future solutions will depend on engineers equipped to develop new approaches and technologies.
For more than 150 years, Kohler Co. has been a global leader in bold design and innovation, dedicated to helping people live gracious, healthy and sustainable lives through its kitchen and bath products; luxury cabinetry, tile and lighting; wellness products and services; and luxury hospitality experiences and major championship golf. Privately held Kohler Co. was founded in 1873 and is headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin. The company also develops sustainable living solutions to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations. Its Innovation for Good platform addresses pressing issues, such as clean water and safe sanitation, with breakthrough products and services for underserved communities. David Kohler is chair and CEO and represents the fourth generation of Kohler family leadership.
Kohler Foundation Inc., located in Kohler, Wisconsin, has long supported the arts and education. It was established in 1940 by Evangeline Kohler, Marie C. Kohler, Lillie B. Kohler, Herbert V. Kohler Sr. and O.A. Kroos. The work of Kohler Foundation encompasses five major areas of concentration: art preservation, grants, scholarships, a performing arts series (Distinguished Guest Series), and the management of the Waelderhaus, an historic home that stands as a tribute to the tradition of Bregenzerwald Province of Vorarlberg, Austria—the ancestral homeland of the Kohler family.
Featured image caption: A rendering of the Phillip A. Levy Engineering Center, a 400,000 square-foot building currently under construction on the UW-Madison engineering campus.