Steenbock Library first floor to reopen in July, with a modern look and new STEM Commons

After a yearlong renovation, Steenbock Library’s first floor will start reopening in July, complete with active learning classrooms, exciting new study spaces, modern amenities, updated technology, and a fresh look and feel.  

“It’s been a busy year, but we’re ready to open the doors and show campus and the community how the revamped space can really serve them,” says Deborah Helman, director of science and engineering library services at Steenbock Library, who oversaw the renovation. “There’s a variety of new spaces to experience!”

Designed by Aro Eberle Architects, the space is being updated to reflect a more contemporary aesthetic and offer greater flexibility to patrons. Warm earth tones and natural elements will be interwoven through the new group rooms, open study spaces, booths, collaborative tables, and classrooms, imbuing each area with an organic ambiance.

Updates will also extend to Steenbock Library’s first-floor entryway: Patrons will be welcomed through the original courtyard-level entrance, newly reopened to give visitors another pathway into the building. Once inside, they’ll find a refreshed vending area. 

The focus, says Helman, is on creating an environment where students and instructors can easily gather and collaborate. It’s more than a makeover — the renovation is an invitation to students, researchers, instructors, and the community to discover how libraries continue to evolve to support learning on every level. 

“Our vision is to create welcoming and supportive spaces that connect formal and informal learning and scholarship, where collaborative and individual discovery flourish and students can easily participate in learning experiences of all kinds,” she says.

Coming August 2026

To kick off the fall 2026 semester, two large active learning classrooms, each serving 96 people, will open for use in August. The classrooms — a design collaboration between Libraries, the Division for Teaching & Learning, and Facilities Planning & Management — were created to serve the instructional needs of academic divisions like the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences (CALS). Staff within the college were routinely engaged in the design process, offering feedback about key features that would support student success.

Next to the classrooms will be a 40-seat multipurpose room that can be used for active learning, events, and study space. These spaces will open on August 24, 2026. Reservation information can be found on the Libraries website. 

Another notable change is the reopening of STEM Commons, an event and gathering space formerly called BioCommons.

STEM Commons, a partnership between WISCIENCE and Steenbock Library, has been offering gathering spaces and programming for STEM students for over a decade. The space will reopen with major updates and new amenities to support its mission of enhancing the undergraduate STEM experience at UW–Madison. Updated features will include a six-person, reservable meeting room, a revamped lounge area, and an updated AV system in the large event space. 

The space will undergo a rebrand as well as a remodel — the name is being changed to better reflect the broad community that WISCIENCE and Steenbock Library serve.

“We’ve been wanting to update the name to be more inclusive of all STEM disciplines,” says Amber Smith, interim WISCIENCE director. “It worked out well to time it with the renovations as we reimagined how the space could further support the STEM community on campus.”  

Find additional first-floor renderings and answers to frequently asked questions on the Steenbock Library Renovation Update page.