Polk Library at UW-Oshkosh getting much-needed facelift
The new learning center will not only enhance students' learning experiences but will have a much smaller footprint, making it more cost-efficient
The new Polk Learning Commons is expected to impact student learning at UW-Oshkosh in a variety of ways. The groundbreaking will take place this spring.
The $137.5 million project was included in the 2025-27 budget, and the Wisconsin Building Commission approved the construction plans on Feb. 5.
The 63-year-old Polk Library has been experiencing deteriorating pipes, water damage, and failing mechanical systems. A May 2024 report found that more than 50 percent of its building components are rated in poor condition.
The new facility will feature a tutoring and writing center, significantly enhanced technological capacity – including tech-equipped meeting rooms – modernized digital research capabilities, better study spaces and an overall more friendly environment for community gathering.
State Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (D-Appleton), who has championed the project for years, says the learning center will pay big dividends for US-Oshkosh.
“I’ve been fighting for this project since before I officially took office over a year ago,” Dassler-Alfheim said. “I’ve toured Polk Library, and I can tell you that this project is absolutely necessary to support the research and the work that professors, staff, and students are engaging in.”
The revitalization of the Polk Library involves demolishing and reconstructing the library’s 1962 wing and renovating the 1969 wing. It will reduce the library’s footprint by 30%, something Dassler-Alfheim said will make the project even more cost-efficient.
“Libraries are the beating heart of any university campus, but the new Polk Learning Commons is going to be so much more than that – not to mention that the improvements and overall reduction in square footage are going to lower utility costs and save money in the long run,” said Senator Dassler-Alfheim.
The Polk Library opened in 1969 at a cost of $1.5 million. At the time, it was the most expensive building on campus. The building was named after the school’s longest serving president, Forrest R. Polk. Polk began as an industrial arts instructor in 1915 and served as president from 1931 to 1959.
