The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee announced today that it has reached an agreement in to locate the new School of Public Health in a building at the former Pabst brewery complex in downtown Milwaukee.

The former brewery complex is being redeveloped by Zilber Ltd. into a mixed use urban neighborhood.

The UWM School of Public Health will occupy 50,000 square feet of space in the complex, now called The Brewery. It will occupy a building located on the east side of North 10th Street between Juneau Avenue and Winnebago Street.

"As Milwaukee's public doctoral research university, UWM is committed to helping transform our region," said UWM Chancellor Carlos E. Santiago. "By locating the School of Public Health downtown, we will be able to connect our faculty and students with others dedicated to addressing the public health needs of our state."

Under the plan, part of the cost of the new facility will be funded by a $10 million gift the university received from philanthropist Joseph J. Zilber, the founder of Zilber Ltd. who died earlier this year.

According to UWM, no state bonding would be required in the initial financing of the new school. Details of the plan will be reviewed by members of the University of Wisconsin System and the UWS Board of Regents as soon as negotiations have been completed.

Some UWM faculty members wanted the School of Public Health to be located on the university's main East Side campus. But supporters of a downtown location said it would allow for collaboration with Aurora Sinai Medical Center and the City of Milwaukee Health Department.

"Creating a downtown location for the School of Public Health is not only consistent with faculty wishes for a significant community presence for the school but also with the faculty's commitment to community engagement and partnerships," said Stephen Percy, acting dean of the UWM School of Public Health. "From a location at The Brewery we will sustain and grow important connections to environmental health sciences and other disciplines on the (East Side) campus, colleagues in the School of Freshwater Sciences, the City of Milwaukee Health Department, and other partners committed to public health."

Milwaukee Commissioner of Health Bevan K. Baker said, "A School of Public Health in downtown Milwaukee would be of immeasurable help in dealing with the serious health issues that our city and others face every day."