The state Building Commission just gave Confluence Project backers 15 million reasons to smile. The commission voted Wednesday to officially release $15 million for the Confluence performing arts center, which will be built in downtown Eau Claire. The money was included as what is called a non-state grant in the 2015-17 state budget, which was passed by the state Legislature last year, but the Building Commission had to formally take the step of authorizing the spending.

The $45 million performing arts center will be shared by UW-Eau Claire and the community, and is being funded from a variety of sources, including the state, city, county, and private donations. Donors have given more than $14 million so far, and fundraisers are aiming to reach $16 million by the time ground is broken on the project in October.

On Wednesday the commission also approved spending for two other UWEC-related projects. The commission gave authority to the Blugold Real Estate Foundation Inc. – on behalf of UWEC – to lease 154,000 square feet of the newly built Haymarket Landing building for student housing beginning this fall. The five-year lease will cost approximately $1.8 million annually. Haymarket Landing is a privately built, mixed-use building on South Barstow Street in downtown Eau Claire that will be adjacent to the Confluence performing arts center.

The commission also OK’d a $12.4 million project to revamp the Garfield Avenue corridor on campus. The state’s share of that project’s funding was included in the 2013-15 state budget. The project will begin next spring and is expected to be done by the fall of 2019. Included is underground utility work (such as new steam piping, sewer, water main, etc.) as well as above-ground work to transform the street into a pedestrian-friendly corridor with restrictions on most vehicles.

“Today, the Building Commission moved forward a number of important projects,” Gov. Scott Walker said in a statement. “The funds approved by the commission will be instrumental in strengthening the facilities at 13 UW campuses. I would like to thank the Building Commission members for taking action to improve facilities all across Wisconsin.”

UWEC Chancellor James Schmidt said that “this is a very good day for UW-Eau Claire and for our community.” In a media release, he added: “We have been working together with community partners for a long time on the Confluence Arts Center and Haymarket Landing, and it’s exciting to see them both coming to life and to know that our students and the residents of our region will soon be realizing the many benefits that will result. Similarly, the Garfield Avenue project, while including much-needed utilities upgrades and generating great savings in energy costs, also will create a wonderful new gathering space along the river that both our students and community members can enjoy.”