Chippewa Valley Times

The weeklong celebration of The Sonnentag’s opening was highlighted by the Sept. 12 ribbon-cutting ceremony for the $122 million facility on the banks of the Chippewa River.

“This project has far exceeded my expectations,” John Sonnentag said. “Thank you to everyone who helped in any way with building this marvelous complex.”

Construction on the building started in spring 2022 after the Sonnentags, both UW-Eau Claire alumni who met and married while at the university, donated cash and land valued at $70 million. The Sonnentags’ gift is the largest in university history and among the largest ever given to a regional public university in the country. UW-Eau Claire students, Pablo Foundation, the city of Eau Claire, and Xcel Energy also contributed financially or through in-kind donations.

“It has truly taken a cast of thousands to bring this magnificent facility to life, but none of us would be here this afternoon had it not been for the generosity of two amazing Blugolds,” Chancellor James Schmidt said. “The Sonnentags’ love for UW-Eau Claire and their desire to create wonderful opportunities for our students never wavered during this process.”

The 225,900-square-foot complex includes the Sonnentag Event Center, the John and Carolyn Sonnentag Fieldhouse, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Center for Health and Wellbeing, and the Mayo Clinic Health System Diagnostic Imaging and Sports Medicine Center.

“The amenities in The Sonnentag will forever change the landscape of UW-Eau Claire and the entire community,” Schmidt said.

“Buildings are wonderful and this place is in a class by itself, but life isn’t really about buildings; it’s about people, the people you meet and the partnerships you forge,” Schmidt added. “As I stand here today, I can proudly say that the Sonnentags have changed my life. I can proudly say that their gift will change lives for thousands of Blugolds who come to enjoy, make connections, and maybe even meet future husbands, wives, business partners or lifelong friends.”

John and Carolyn Sonnentag wanted visitors to experience a “wow factor” with this facility.

“Here we are under budget, on schedule and wow—what a complex,” John Sonnentag remarked.

Carolyn Sonnentag attributed their ability to contribute significantly to County Concrete Co.'s national customer base over 60 years.

“This building may have our name on it but without our business's leadership and continued growth this could not have been possible,” she stated.

Initially planned as a replacement for Zorn Arena on campus, Kimera Way noted that The Sonnentag evolved into northwest Wisconsin's largest indoor event venue.

Jason Verdugo acknowledged at the ceremony that their generosity will impact UW-Eau Claire’s athletic department long-term.

“The best way we can honor your family is by what we do day in and day out—how we compete, how we practice—our commitment to excellence," Verdugo pledged.

Dave Minor emphasized The Sonnentag’s role as an economic driver for Chippewa Valley through new activities and investments.

“The center represents more than just a building; it symbolizes what can happen when vision meets opportunity,” Minor commented.

Dan Market highlighted its economic impact during construction: 55 subcontractors paid $38 million in wages/benefits to 700 employees working 375,000 hours over two years.

Korinne Haeffel announced before ribbon-cutting that The Sonnentag received gold-level Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design certification from U.S. Green Building Council due to its sustainability focus including geothermal wells heating/cooling via extensive piping network powered by local solar energy from Xcel Energy.

“Buildings should be catalysts—not just shelters—and this one exemplifies that idea extraordinarily well," Haeffel observed.

Sam Consiglio expressed student support for LEED certification discussions/financial backing towards operational fees emphasizing collaboration/community engagement potential within state-of-the-art facilities benefiting students/faculty alike fostering connections across Eau Claire region.