The Powerhouse is On

That day will signal the beginning of the former power plant’s transformation into an integrated student union, recreation center, and athletics facility. After years of dreaming, planning, and major fundraising, the hammers will start swinging in what will be a deconstruction project first, before any construction starts. The college’s partner in the project, Alliant Energy, will begin the process of removing unwanted equipment from the building as its first order of business. As the equipment moves out, Studio Gang Architects will continue to work on completing the final design.

The 130,000 square-foot building is a one-of-a-kind project in any number of ways, including how Beloit faculty incorporated planning for the building into courses. Students worked on and studied many aspects of the Powerhouse, including its environmentally friendly and sustainable features, along with its potential to build community within the structure and beyond, as it connects the college to the city. The Powerhouse will be open to students by the fall of 2019.