The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point will continue its trend of campus transformation when the Sentry Hall project begins next year.
Recently approved by the State Building Commission, the $98 million Sentry Hall modernization project will turn Collins Classroom Center into the home of the Sentry School of Business and Economics. The project will begin just as the UWSP Library and Student Resource Center building project is completed.
“The Sentry Hall capital project would not have been possible without a $10 million gift toward the school and the building from Sentry Insurance in 2022,” said Interim Chancellor Pratima Gandhi. “We are grateful for Sentry and the Building Commission for their support of our efforts to grow to meet Wisconsin’s educational and workforce needs.”
“This is one of the most meaningful and impactful investments we’ve ever made,” said Pete McPartland, Sentry Chairman and CEO. “We’re building more than a new home for business education. We’re helping UWSP continue to attract new students and leaders from many backgrounds to Stevens Point, while strengthening the workforce that will drive the entire region forward.”
The Sentry Hall project began the design phase in fall 2023 with Aro Eberle Architects, was enumerated in the 2025-2027 state budget and was approved by the Board of Regents in August 2025. Construction will begin in the summer of 2026.
The project will add 20,000 square feet to the building and transform the interior into active learning classrooms, collaboration spaces and student centers. It includes replacing all building mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire suppression and heating/cooling systems. The building will feature a new facade to ensure it is energy efficient and thermally comfortable.
It will relocate the Anderson Classroom to Career Center, a one-stop student service center that connects Sentry School students to more than 30 corporate partners for networking and internships, from its current location in the College of Professional Studies (CPS) Building. In addition to housing faculty and administrative offices for the Sentry School, Sentry Hall will also include the CPS Dean’s Suite.
The facility will be home to a new Entrepreneurship Center, aiding students in resources for building a business, including the UWSP Small Business Development Center. Other centers will include the Center for Data Analytics, Center for Sales Excellence, Center for Business and Economic Insight and the Ruth E. Salzmann Center for Women’s Leadership. It will also include distance technology facilities to connect courses with branch campuses and place-bound students.
The Sentry School has seen enrollment increase by 51% over the past five years, and since 2023, more than 92% of graduates report finding employment within Wisconsin.
“The Sentry Hall modernization project will allow us to continue to expand applied learning opportunities for our students in support of our mission to develop career-ready graduates and leaders,” said Kevin Neuman, head of the Sentry School of Business and Economics. “This project is an investment in UWSP students as well as the citizens and employers of Wisconsin.”
The transformation of Collins Classroom Center into Sentry Hall is just the latest example of how UW-Stevens Point continues to invest in its students, faculty, staff and community through new, donor-supported facilities within the last seven years, said Gandhi.
The new UWSP Library and Student Resource Center will open in the spring of 2026, offering a one-stop location for student resources and services.
“These new and updated academic and student service facilities speak to UW-Stevens Point’s commitment to student success,” she said. “Consistent growth of our campus ensures that we continue to have modern and engaging spaces for our students to discover their purpose for years to come.”
Expansion began with the Haeni Chemistry Biology Building, opening in 2018 as the first free standing academic building constructed on campus in 40 years. It is known as a science-on-display facility with state-of-the-art laboratories and a tropical conservatory. Frank and Kathleen Haeni, 1970 graduates of UWSP, were recognized with the naming, having supported their alma mater through scholarships and funding for undergraduate research, the Olson Museum of Natural History and an endowment for biology and chemistry laboratory equipment and upkeep.
In 2020, with the support of locally based Delta Dental, the university opened its new Welcome Center to serve as a hub for the Admissions and Recruitment team. The renovation of the former Newman Catholic Center created a convenient location for prospective students and their families to start campus visits and learn about the university.
This summer, the new Health and Wellness Center opened as an addition of Marshfield Clinic Health System Champions Hall, offering one location for both physical and mental health needs through the Student Health Service, Counseling Center and Dawg Fitness, paid for through student-fees.
Next spring, the Library and Student Resources Center will open after two years of construction. It will offer a one-stop location for library and student services in the center of campus. The project also includes the renovation of Specht Forum (The Sundial) to serve as a student connection place between the library and Noel Fine Arts Center.
“These new facilities not only serve our students but our community, from offering Dawg Fitness memberships and use of our library and Welcome Center to innovative scientific research and advances that benefit the public,” said Gandhi. “Sentry Hall will continue this legacy by producing skilled and experienced leaders who are the future of business in our region and beyond.”