The University of Wisconsin’s School of Freshwater Sciences Building is being built adjacent to an old tile factory that is currently hosting the school.  This new 100,000 sf laboratory building resulted in a long linear plan to maximize the connections that could be bridged into the existing structure. The 400’-0” south facade proved to be a design challenge. The goal being to create a dynamic and pedestrian friendly experience on such a narrow piece of land. Working with light weight custom texture/color concrete panels and curved sunshades, the long flat facade is brought to life- the shadows of the sun screens and colors making the experience ever changing like the surface of water.