Order Your Brick Today
Click on the brick you would like to order
The Lunda Center will be located at the La Crosse Campus in the vacant space where our Automotive Technology Program was located, adjoining the Coleman Center on 7th Street.
Lunda Center
The Lunda Center will be a high technology meeting facility appropriate for campus and community needs of more than 600 people. The project is of critical importance to the College in that it will allow us to expand training for existing workers and to reach out to new adult students. This is vital to maintaining a skilled workforce and a strong economy in our region.
Western is receiving increased requests for graduates from area employers due to the retirement of baby boom generation skilled workers. At the same time, our analysis shows that the high school population in the 26 school districts in western Wisconsin will decrease by 15% over the next ten years. As a result of this combined effect, Western is significantly expanding the emphasis on upgrading the education levels of the adult population in our region. The Lunda Center will allow Western Technical College to increase training for incumbent workers by 250% by the year 2011, reaching a projected total of 8,700 people per year in short term training and certificate programs. This will result in a significant percentage of these adults choosing to continue their education in diploma or degree programs…something that will play a vital role in Western’s response to the developing skilled worker shortage.
How will the project be funded?
The Lunda Center is a $3.3 million capital project. The College is able to provide $1 million from their borrowing authority and the Western Foundation is raising $2.8 million privately. Through overwhelming community support, we have raised $2.3 million! Many companies and individuals have opted to contribute to the project and have a space named in recognition or as an opportunity to leave their legacy. There are a few more rooms available to be named.
A special feature etched in the remodeled courtyard will be the constellation Eridanus, which means “the river.” We are offering donors the opportunity to name one of the thirty stars in the constellation or a brick in the courtyard.
Where can I get more information?
Western Technical College has been around for nearly 100 years and this is the first time we have been able to offer businesses and members of our community the opportunity to leave their legacy by placing their name on a very prestigious location of our campus; right in the heart of downtown La Crosse. For more information about how you can leave your legacy, please contact Lynn Rudig at the Western Technical College Foundation, 608.785.9487.
