Another round of construction stimulus is coming to the University of Michigan thanks to its Board of Regents.
The Board approved spending nearly $6 million on a new soccer stadium, demolition of the Kresge Complex and additions to the Engineering Programs Building and the George Granger Brown Memorial Laboratories.
The big-ticket item is a 66,000-square-foot addition to the George Granger Brown Memorial Laboratories. The new wing will house space for research laboratories and offices for faculty and students. The 220,000 square-foot building was built in 1958 and houses the Department of Mechanical Engineering. It includes research areas such as bio, energy and nano-systems. The $56 million project is currently in the design phase.
Disappearing is the Kresge Complex at the northeast corner of Ann Street and Zina Pitcher Place. The Board of Regents approved the $9.7 million demolition of the hodgepodge of buildings from mid 20th Century. University officials have said the 260,000 square feet that housed the Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Kresge Temporary Animal Facility, Alice Crocker Lloyd Radiation Therapy Center and Upjohn Center for Clinical Pharmacology has reached the end of their useful life.
The Board of Regents also approved the construction of a 10,000-square-foot addition to Engineering Programs Building, aka Wilson Student Team Project Center. This is the building where U-M's famous solar cars and concrete canoes are developed and produced. The $4.8 million addition gives these teams more space to operate. Work is expected to be done by the fall of 2010.
Also approved was the schematic design for the new $6 million soccer stadium. The new stadium is set to go just west of the U-M Tennis Center on South State Street. It will feature space for restrooms, locker rooms and stands for 1,800 fans. Work on that project is also expected to wrap by the fall of 2010.
Source: University of Michigan Board of Regents
Writer: Jon Zemke
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