Building the Future: New Facility Will Enhance MSOE Campus

Kendall Breunig Center for the Built Environment

During an investment class with Dr. John Zachar (pictured at left) more than four decades ago, Dr. Kendall Breunig ’79 was inspired to dip his toe into the world of real estate. Within three months of graduation, the future MSOE Regent bought his first income property, and started what would become a very successful career—and ultimately lead to a new home for MSOE’s Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management Department.

“I got into real estate investment because of Dr. Zachar, who is now in his 50th year at MSOE,” said Breunig. “As a student, you never know, sometimes it just takes one thing to hit for you with your classes that will set your path for the future.”

Breunig worked in construction management for 10 years after graduation and invested in approximately 100 apartments. “By then, I figured I could make a living doing this. Not only do I do the design, I do the development with my own construction crew and manage and hold the properties. I specialize in anything that’s not pretty—I only buy troubled and foreclosed properties that may have structural or environmental issues. They are the most challenging and the most rewarding.”

Dr. Kendall Breunig '79

However, one property that isn’t troubled caught Breunig’s eye: the building located at 310 E. Knapp St., across from Viets Field and the Kern Center. When the building went up for sale about 10 years ago the owners approached MSOE, hoping to sell it to the university. At the time, there wasn’t a need for it. Breunig kept his eye on it though, and in time he learned MSOE’s Civil and Architectural Engineering and

Construction Management Department was beginning to outgrow its current space in the lower level of the Campus Center.

“Once I knew there was a purpose for the Knapp Street building, I kept watching it. I was able to get the price down a bit more and bought it two years ago. This past March 1, I donated the property to MSOE to be used by the department I graduated from,” said Breunig. “MSOE means a lot to me. Thanks to Dr. Zachar, I got to where I am now.”

Breunig and his three younger brothers all graduated from MSOE. He credits the university for pulling them together and keeping them close. Over the years they partnered on a couple businesses related to pharmaceuticals and chemicals. Breunig’s granddaughter is currently enrolled in the architectural engineering program and as he puts it, with any luck, his grandson will soon be a Raider as well. One of his dreams is for them to take a class in a building with their grandfather’s name on it.

Breunig made the property available to MSOE through a bargain sale from his company, Sunset Investors, allowing the university to purchase it for approximately $9 million less than its assessed value. Renovations to transform the building into the new academic home for the Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management Department will cost $14 million, all of which will be financed through private philanthropy. Breunig has pledged $2 million toward the renovation, and MSOE has launched a fundraising campaign to secure the remainder of the funding from alumni, friends and corporate partners.

“This gift perfectly captures Kendall Breunig. He’s extremely smart and always thinking about what can be done. He had his eye on the building for years, even before I started at MSOE,” said MSOE President John Walz, Ph.D. “Kendall wanted it to be home to where he earned his MSOE degrees. He loves his alma mater and told me several times, one of his priorities was making sure getting that building would not be a burden at all for MSOE.”

The Breunig legacy will live on at MSOE in the Kendall Breunig Center for the Built Environment. It is a three-story building with 58,429 square feet that was built in 2000. The term “built environment” encompasses buildings, the distribution of utility systems, and roads, bridges and transportation systems—essentially everything that is taught in MSOE’s civil engineering, architectural engineering and construction management programs.

Kendall Breunig Center for the Built Environment

Renovations will begin once MSOE has raised the funds needed to complete the first phase of the project and the current tenants have moved out, both of which are expected by early 2024. The first phase will allow faculty and students to occupy the second floor of the building. Work will begin on the remaining portion of the facility when the fundraising campaign is complete.

Once renovations are finished, students will enjoy an outdoor plaza and an indoor commons area; learn in seven laboratories and six classrooms; hone their skills in the presentation area; and study in a variety of collaboration rooms and spaces.

Environmental Laboratory

Breunig graduated from MSOE with an Associate of Applied Science in Architectural and Building Construction Engineering Technology in 1978 and a bachelor’s degree in the same field in 1979. He received an M.S. in Civil Engineering from Marquette University in 1987 and was later awarded an Honorary Doctor of Engineering from MSOE in 2017. He served as a member of the MSOE Corporation before joining the Board of Regents in 2016 and was inducted to MSOE’s Alumni Wall of Distinction in 2021.

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