Madison Reporter

A historic $75 million gift will fuel the construction of a new engineering building at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The donation, made by brothers and UW–Madison alumni Marvin and Jeffrey Levy, honors their late brother, Phil, who passed away in 2021.

The Phillip A. Levy Engineering Center will be the centerpiece of the College of Engineering campus. The facility aims to foster collaboration and innovation within the engineering community. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers gave final approval for the project on March 6, 2024.

Marvin and Jeffrey Levy announced their support for the new building at an event held at Bascom Hall on September 11, 2024. “Through this gift, we can ensure the College of Engineering will remain on the leading edge and educate an ever-expanding number of talented engineers for generations to come,” said Marv Levy.

The new eight-story, 395,000 square-foot facility will allow for expanded enrollment in the College of Engineering. It is expected to have a significant impact on local communities and industries by fostering technological innovation and economic prosperity.

Phil Levy was an accomplished interior designer with a deep commitment to UW–Madison. His career included founding Phillip Levy Fine Furniture and Interior Design in Madison after studying at ArtCenter College of Design in Los Angeles. He was also actively involved in various community organizations such as Madison Rotary and United Way.

In addition to this recent gift, Marvin and Jeffrey have been long-time supporters of UW–Madison initiatives. In 2021, they contributed towards Irving and Dorothy Levy Hall in memory of their parents.

The Levys’ donation is part of a larger fundraising effort that seeks to raise an additional $75 million for the $347 million facility. The state of Wisconsin has already committed $197 million to the project.

“We aren’t engineers,” Jeff Levy stated, “but we are engineering a great campus.”