On November 11th, the MBA Fellowship Students were given a behind-the-scenes tour of the Discovery Building, organized by the Weinert Center of Entrepreneurship.
We kicked off our tour on the first floor, stepping into the Mesozoic Garden — a bright, plant-filled space. It is a favorite spot for students to meet, recharge, or grab a quick cup of coffee. However, the real magic of the Discovery Building is beyond the first floor, with each floor and room designed intentionally to spark new ideas.
Our tour guide, Andrew Hanus, walked us through the building while sharing the rich backstory behind this architectural gem. The origins of the Discovery building dates to 2006, when Chancellor John Wiley and Governor Jim Doyle were searching for ways to elevate scientific research on campus. At the same time, national conversation surrounding stem cell legislation were intensifying. The Morgridge family, longtime UW-Madison supporters, were deeply invested in protecting stem cell research at the University. The solution was bold.
The Discovery Building was created as a unique partnership between the Morgridge Institute for Research, a private nonprofit pushing to advance healthcare, and the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, a public research affiliate with UW-Madison. This partnership allowed researchers to push the boundaries while maintaining protected spaces for sensitive research. Fully completed in 2010 and funded by WARF (Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation), John & Tashia Morgridge, and the State of Wisconsin, the Discovery Building became a home for unrestricted scientific exploration.
Fifteen years later, the building remains one-of-kind. In 2025, WARF gifted its portion back to the University, enabling the first floor to transition under the Wisconsin Union for hosting community and campus event. Boosting the beauty and history of the building. Today, the building is home to researchers across 29 disciplines and 17 UW Departments. Ranging from psychology to engineering to computational biology.
The upper floors are divided into themed hubs such as the Design Hub, Data Hub, Illuminating Discovery Hub, and Microbiome Hub. Within the Illuminating Discovery Hub is the Entrepreneurship Science Lab, led by Professor Jon Eckhardt, where science, engineering, and entrepreneurship intersect to support innovation and startup development.
In its sublevel, the Discovery Building houses it most specialized facilities. The Fab Lab, led by Professor Tom Turng, for prototyping and tool creation supports breakthroughs in biomedical and engineering designs. Nearby is the Virtual Environment Suite, home to the immersive CAVE system. This technology enables researchers to step inside virtual reconstructions and supports educational outreach through the Wisconsin Science Festival.
Art is also intentionally woven in the building’s identity. The Science of Street Art mural, created by a student (Dr. Sharon Tang) and collaborators, blends scientific imagery and holds nine interactive QR codes. It is one of the signature pieces featured in the newly opened John D. Wiley Gallery for Art and Science, recognizing Chancellor Wiley’s longstanding commitment to uniting artistic and scientific expression on campus.
Our tour made one thing clear: the Discovery Building is far more than a research facility. It is a living ecosystem where innovation thrives and brings people together. We are incredibly lucky to have explored it history, architecture, and research firsthand. As the Discovery Building continues to evolve, we look forward to seeing how the discoveries will shape the future for years to come.
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