Sun Prairie Utilities is planning to build a new facility to provide the additional space needed to serve the growing community. This expansion combined with enhanced security, improved energy efficiency, the central location, and ease of access to the building for employees and the community will allow staff to serve the residents of Sun Prairie to the best of their abilities.
View Construction Online
Click here to view the live stream of the building's progress. The arrow in the upper right-hand corner of the screen starts the stream.
Overview
Sun Prairie Utilities (SPU) has been located in Downtown Sun Prairie for over 50 years. In 1972 the population was over 10,500. By 1986 the city had grown to around 14,400 and swelled to over 20,400 by the year 2000. A few expansions took place throughout the years but have not kept up with the growth of the city. In 2021, the U.S. Census Bureau reported the number of residents in Sun Prairie had grown to approximately 36,100.
Why a new building?
The current building is not keeping up with the utility demands resulting from Sun Prairie's rapidly growing city. The 19,000-square-foot, 50-year-old facility forces offsite storage of numerous vehicles and equipment. Similarly, limited to no space exists for new employees in the 9,000-square-foot, 22-year-old main office area. Additionally, the mechanical systems of the existing facilities are aging and require escalating operation and maintenance costs. The 83,000-square-foot new facility will incorporate various sustainability and technological advancements and is expected to provide the utility with adequate space to grow for the next 30-50 years.
How will the new building help the community?
The new facility is being designed to fit the needs of the community. The additional space for vehicles, equipment, materials, and staff will increase operational efficiency and minimize the length of potential service interruptions. The public will continue to have access to customer service, attend meetings, and the new community room will be available for public use.
Where will the new building be located?
To maintain the central location and accessibility to its customers, the new operations facility will be located on Linnerud Drive across the street from Sun Prairie Utilities' inventory storage facility located on Craftsman Way.
Progress
The Wisconsin Public Service Commission has approved the construction authorization application.
Construction Bids were considered at the May 20 Utilities Commission meeting, from which Miron's base bid incorporated geothermal and a basement, along with alternates to include 435kW of rooftop solar, a bulk-fill water station, and a 30-foot extension to the west wall of the garage area was selected. With the incorporation of many sustainability and energy efficiency initiatives, the project continues to seek LEED Gold Certification.
The overall estimated project costs are $22.5M (including Focus on Energy Incentives and IRA Tax Credits) or $1.9M below the original budget. This equates to an electric and water rate impact to the average customer totaling $91.70 per year.
The Groundbreaking Ceremony was on Thursday, July 11, 2024. Please watch for a public ribbon cutting and open house when the facility is finished (roughly estimated for late 2025).
Additional details can be found in the quarterly newsletters at the bottom of the Newsroom page on our website.
Media
Sun Prairie Utilities' current building - view the video here.
Sun Prairie Utilities' new facility -
View pictures of the facility here.
View a site layout of the new facility here.
View a virtual walkthrough of the new facility here.
Highlighted on Inside Your City (March 10, 2023) and Roundabout Sun Prairie (May 30, 2023).
Sun Prairie Utilities achieved 2023 Climate Champion status for the future facility.
*Images may vary due to the designs changing.