Wgema Campus History & Project Update
Wgema Campus, formerly Concordia College Campus, is rich in history and value to the City of Milwaukee and the historic neighborhood that surrounds it. Concordia College left this historic neighborhood in 1983 and moved its campus to Mequon, where it now operates as Concordia University Wisconsin. The campus was purchased by the Forest County Potawatomi (FCP) in 1990, and had been leased to the Indian Community School until the school moved to Franklin in 2010. Since then, a strategic plan has been put in place to redevelop the historically significant, but neglected campus.
The Bgemagen Building (meaning War Club), formerly Wunder Hall, was the first of the buildings on campus to be redeveloped according to the plan established by Tribal Administration. This building is currently home to the Potawatomi Business Development Corporation; its subsidiary companies Greenfire Management Services, 1Prospect Technologies, Advancia Aeronautics, Advancia Technologies, Potawatomi Training, Silver Lake Construction; and administrative offices of the Milwaukee Police department.
The second building to be redeveloped was Nengos (meaning Star), formerly Pritzlaff Hall. Nengos is home to Woodlands East, an independent charter school that currently instructs approximately 200 students, K-4.
In late 2014, FCP Executive Council passed a motion to proceed with a five-year, $30 million plan to renovate all of the remaining historic buildings on Wgema Campus, beginning with Wgetthta. Final updates to Wgetthta (meaning Warrior), formerly Albrecht Hall and Rickner Library are now in sight. Window installation is wrapping up on all floors, the stained glass windows are being reassembled for the second floor gathering space, concrete floors have been poured, polished, and stained, wood flooring is nearing completion, and the elevator is being installed. The landscaping and exterior concrete ramp, stairs, and sidewalks are in progress, and all final updates are expected to be complete by the end of this year. The Forest County Potawatomi Gaming Commission, Legal Department and Foundation will be occupying this space once it is complete.
Following completion of Wgetthta, renovations will begin on the Wgemas Building (meaning Little Chief), formerly the refectory, and Tthigwe (meaning Thunderbird), formerly the gymnasium and pool.
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