UWM Sustainability & Green Infrastructure

(2) Pangea Plaza

The first green roof at the university,  Pangea Plaza , was constructed in 1992 along with Lubar Hall, the business building to the west. Similar to Spaights Plaza, Pangea Plaza sits on top of a parking structure and catches rainwater where it falls. These plazas are ‘invisible’ green infrastructure, as most visitors don’t realize they are actually sitting on top of a green roof!

Pangea Plaza is a hub for business students, frequently populated by study groups and loungers.

(3) Lapham Hall Native Garden

Previously home to outdated landscaping,  this native garden  is prominently located on the visitor thoroughfare. Through a collaborative effort, the Office of Sustainability, Grounds Department, Biological Sciences Greenhouse, and local business, Native Roots, established this native garden in 2023.

Native gardens look and feel more wild than the gardens most of us are used to. The plants are intentional, though, ensuring different flowers bloom all across spring, summer, and into fall to support pollinators and native bees. If you linger long enough, you might see a monarch land on one of the milkweed plants!

Strategically located outside of Lapham Hall, home to many of the UWM's natural science programs, the garden is primed to serve as a living laboratory for students. Those studying conservation, botany, ecology, and hydrology can utilize the garden to further explore topics covered in the classroom. Student and staff volunteers also steward the gardens, providing an opportunity for community service

(4) KIRC Bioretention

Built on the south side of the  Kenwood Interdisciplinary Research Complex  (KIRC), these bioretention basins are located alongside a pedestrian walkway allowing them to be enjoyed by passersby.

The four basins slow the flow of stormwater during rain events, helping to divert water from storm sewers. Campus partners and students are actively developing ideas for utilizing these basins in new ways as many of the plants originally established here were not well suited for the site.

(5) Physics Gardens and Cistern

Located next to the  Physics Building  entrance, along Kenwood Boulevard, this simple 350 gallon cistern was designed by UWM student organization Engineers without Borders and funded by a grant from the Southeastern Wisconsin Watershed Trust.

This cistern provides most of the water supply for the 23 community garden plots located in the neighboring lawn. The  gardens are rented out to students and staff , empowering them to grow their own produce, increase their food sovereignty, and form bonds with each other and the land. This year's gardens featured a special astrologically themed garden bed, shared by students and staff of the  Manfred Olson Planetarium , located within the Physics Building. Their garden plot features Rocket Arugula, Cosmos, and Mandurang Moon Tomatoes, and serve as prime example of gardens as a creative outlet on campus.

Students and volunteers also grow additional vegetables and herbs at the gardens, which are harvested and shared with the UWM Food Center & Pantry.

(6) Engelmann Stadium

As you pass the  soccer field , imagine it filled, end to end, with 1 story (10 feet) of water. Now imagine that duplicated 12 times over! That volume is equivalent to the 16.5 million gallons of stormwater diverted by UWM's green infrastructure features each year. Learn more in the Office of Sustainability  Annual Report .

(7) Sandburg Stormwater Treatment Chain

Visible above ground as a meandering slope of rock slabs, gravel, and vegetation,  this human-made stream bed  culminates in an underground 5,000 gallon Aqua Blox Cistern. The water, relatively cleansed by its journey through vegetation and substrate, is used to irrigate nearby gardens.

The Sandburg Stormwater Treatment Chain features an  informational sign , boardwalk, and trail through a wooded area. Educational initiatives such as signs can help increase awareness and sustainability literacy of interested passerbys. The trail also leads to UWM's  Hoop House , home of our on-site composting program.

(8) Spiral Gardens & Cisterns

These  gardens  - actually a large bioswale - are part of an  award winning demonstration project , covering approximately 5,000 square feet and capturing parking lot runoff. Filled with native plants, such as  cup plant  and ironweed, the gardens capture rainwater where it falls while also supporting birds and pollinators. Cup plant in particular is a fascinating example of nature's ability to capture stormwater: each set of leaves along the 10-foot tall stalk forms a small "cup," often used by birds and pollinators as a water source.

Additionally, there are two 20-foot tall cisterns that store additional rainwater from the Heat Plant roof. Read the signs on the  North  and  South  ends of the pathway for more information, project history, and design schematics.

The Spiral Gardens and cisterns stem from the work of Jim Wasley, UWM Professor of Architecture, and collaborators including staff, students, and local partners (read more in the  UWM as a Zero Discharge Zone Report ).

(9) Greene Museum Rain Garden

The rain garden behind the Greene Museum, now the  Stahl Center for Jewish Studies , was planted to prevent water pooling at the west door to the building ( view plans here ). This rain garden consists of both intentionally  planted vegetation  and "volunteer" plants, grown from seeds dropped by birds and small mammals, including Iron Weed and Boneset.

The building itself is one of the oldest on campus. Originally home to the Greene fossil and mineral collection, the building was built in 1913. Eventually, the museum collection was moved to Lapham Hall ( take a virtual tour of the Greene Geological Museum! ) and, after renovation, the building became home to the Stahl Center.

(10) Pounce Panther - Golda Meir Library Green Roof

Stop by the iconic  Pounce Panther statue  in front of Enderis Hall - snap a selfie while you are there! Across the street and slightly to the right is the Golda Meir Library. While you can't see it from the street, the 3rd floor of the library features two green roofs and a 30-kilowatt photovoltaic solar panel system.

While not visible from the ground, the green roof can be viewed from the Library 4th Floor and from Enderis Hall. You can also learn more about the green roof by watching this  recent news piece .