WCTC Breaks Ground on Major Applied AI Lab Expansion

Second-Floor Addition on Track to Open in 2027

Line of people in hard hats each toss a shovelful of dirt at the same time Earlier this summer, Waukesha County Technical College celebrated a significant milestone with a ceremonial groundbreaking for a 12,200-square-foot second-story addition to the WCTC Applied AI Lab. The event brought together 80-plus supporters, including College officials, business and community partners and local legislators to mark the beginning of the lab’s expansion.

This addition builds on the early success of the lab, which originally opened in fall 2024, to help businesses and startups implement practical artificial intelligence solutions.

The second floor will be dedicated to academics and house the College’s existing and growing AI, tech and data-related programs. It will integrate student learning with industry activities and feature state-of-the-art tech classrooms, collaborative workspaces, an entrepreneurial presentation space (“pitch pit”) and more. The project also adds 720 square feet to the main floor for new stairwells and an elevator.

Construction Progress and Project Timeline

Construction kicked off in June and it remains on schedule, said Rich Haen, WCTC’s executive director of district facilities.

Early work in summer focused on site preparation, foundation excavation and building the support structure for the new stairwells and elevator. More recently, crews completed foundation work, backfilling and interior concrete pours, and workers have begun structural modifications such as removing portions of the roof to prepare for incoming structural steel and masonry components.

In the coming months, the focus will shift to the raising of the building structure, construction of the stairs and elevator shafts, installation of steel decking and the development of second-floor walls and the building enclosure. Leading up to May 2027, when the project is due for substantial completion, work will concentrate on interior systems, finishes, technology, infrastructure and final commissioning. Construction workers working on erecting a second floor for Building Q

"It’s exciting to see the Applied AI Lab project taking shape after several years of planning. This summer marked a major milestone as we moved from design into active construction and completed much of the foundational work needed to support the addition,” Haen said. “Corporate Contractors (general contractor), Zimmerman Architectural Studio (architect) and the entire project team have done an outstanding job coordinating the work while keeping the project on schedule and minimizing disruption to campus operations.”

Financial Support from Businesses, Community

The addition of the WCTC Applied AI Lab has become a reality thanks to tremendous financial support from corporate and community donors.

In summer 2024, the WCTC Foundation launched a $6 million fundraising campaign, kicked off by an initial $1 million gift from the Harry V. Quadracci family’s Windhover Foundation. Over time, momentum was built upon by WCTC and individual donors, as well as regional business partners including InPro, Eaton, Waukesha State Bank, the Petcoff Foundation, Trace-A-Matic and the We Energies Foundation – all of which sponsored an area within the Applied AI Lab.

In fall 2025, the WCTC Foundation reached its fundraising goal with a generous $2 million gift from the PPC Foundation, which is the philanthropic vehicle for the PieperPower family of companies. This includes naming rights for Building Q, which houses the lab. The PPC Foundation donation closed out the campaign allowing the College to move forward with the addition.

That vital philanthropic backing is already yielding visible results, Haen said, in the form of brick, mortar and steel.

“The progress we’re seeing today brings us one step closer to providing students with a state-of-the-art learning environment focused on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies,” he said.