$30 million gift from Herb Kohl’s foundation will renovate university’s music hall
Herb Kohl Philanthropies has made a historic $30 million lead gift to the University of Wisconsin–Madison to renovate the campus’s historic Music Hall as the future home of the La Follette School of Public Affairs, which will be renamed Herb Kohl Hall in honor of the late U.S. senator’s lifelong commitment to education and public service.
The pledge, announced February 17, dedicates $20 million for major building renovations and $10 million to strengthen La Follette’s programming, with the redesigned facility expected to open in 2029.
The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents approved the name change on February 6, 2026, formally enshrining Kohl’s legacy on the campus he long championed as an alumnus, donor and advocate for civil, solutions-focused policymaking. UW–Madison Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin said renaming Music Hall “serves as a lasting testament to Sen. Kohl’s lifelong support of UW–Madison, his deep commitment to public service and an ethos of civility in public debate and policymaking,” adding that the building is meant to embody the value of listening and learning across differences at a moment of intense polarization.
Originally known as Assembly Hall and opened in the late 19th century as UW–Madison’s first building dedicated to large gatherings, the 146‑year‑old structure will retain its historic exterior while its interior is fully modernized to serve a rapidly expanding La Follette School community.
Plans call for a “one-stop” academic hub that brings together students, faculty and staff who are currently scattered across 28 locations, with new advising suites, welcoming study areas, updated collaborative commons and classroom space sized for growing enrollment. The school also expects to begin fundraising this spring for a south‑wing addition that would allow La Follette’s entire community to be housed under one roof.
The gift arrives as La Follette prepares to launch Wisconsin’s first undergraduate major in public policy in fall 2026, building on the success of its popular undergraduate certificates in public policy (introduced in 2019) and health policy (launched in 2022).
Those certificates have quickly become some of the most sought-after academic offerings on campus, with nearly 800 certificates awarded to date and about 1,060 students enrolled in La Follette undergraduate courses in the 2024–25 academic year. An internal survey showed that 85% of certificate students would have declared a public policy major had it been available, and La Follette leaders now project the new major will enroll as many as 400 students within five years, placing it among UW–Madison’s largest programs.
Kohl’s foundation has been central to this transformation, beginning with a $10 million gift in 2019 that enabled La Follette to offer undergraduate coursework after more than three decades as a graduate-only program. Since then, the school has doubled the size of its faculty and significantly expanded its reach, sending hundreds of students into policy-related careers and graduate study.
“Sen. Kohl was possibly the La Follette School’s biggest fan,” said Chuck Pruitt, a member of Herb Kohl Philanthropies’ board and of La Follette’s Board of Visitors, noting that the latest pledge ensures the school can “build off the immense momentum” generated by Kohl’s earlier support.
JoAnne Anton, president and CEO of Herb Kohl Philanthropies, called the $30 million commitment “a significant step toward fully realizing the senator’s ambitious vision for La Follette,” and said she looks forward to the moment when Herb Kohl Hall opens its doors in 2029.
In its new home, La Follette plans to honor the building’s roots by continuing to host major speakers and conferences and by positioning Herb Kohl Hall as a highly visible, central venue for robust, civil debate on critical public policy issues, where diverse perspectives are both expected and respected.