Correction Appended: This story incorrectly stated that "On Friday, the University Board of Regents is expected to approve the schematic design of North Quad." It should have said the regents were expected to be asked to vote on them Friday. The same story incorrectly stated the time of a informational meeting about the plans on March 23. The meeting, which will be in the Lorch Hall Auditorium and will focus on students, staff and faculty, will take place from 4 to 6 p.m.

When administrators asked students how residence halls could be improved, students suggested air conditioning, top-of-the-line dining halls and high-tech study areas. When the North Quad Residential and Academic Complex is finished in three years, they'll get their wish.

On Friday, the University Board of Regents is expected to vote on the schematic design of North Quad. In summer 2009, North Quad will open its doors at the current site of the Frieze Building, making it the first residence hall the University has built since Bursley Hall in 1968. With a set of features largely unheard of in other residence halls, North Quad will herald the future of student housing at the University, administrators say.

The building's planners designed the University dorms according to the demands of today's students, Associate Provost Phil Hanlon said.

"We're creating a building unlike any we have, and like very few nationally," he said. "This is one of the most ambitious efforts we've ever made."

In an attempt to bring residential and academic life together under one roof, the building will house 460 students, the School of Information, the Sweetland Writing Center, the Language Resource Center, the Communication Studies department and the Film Arts and Culture department.

"We want this to be a magnet location for undergraduates on campus," said Hank Baier, associate vice president for facilities and operations.

North Quad might also house the Global Scholars Community and the Sophomore Year Experience, two Michigan Learning Communities in development, University spokeswoman Julie Peterson said.

"It'll share residential and academic space in what we hope will be a very meaningful way," Hanlon said.

North Quad will offer suite-style rooms different from the vast majority of rooms on campus, with either four singles or two doubles connected. The double suites will have a shared living room. Rather than communal bathrooms for each hall, each suite will have its own bathroom.

"Personally, I am very excited about the suites, even though I won't be here to live in one," said Darla Williams, president of the Residence Halls Association. "This will lead to more varied housing opportunities on central campus."

As Mosher-Jordan will when it reopens in 2008, North Quad will have air conditioning in all rooms. The University will likely house students in these halls during the spring and summer semesters, Peterson said.

As per their requests, students will have ample group-study space, Henry said. Each floor will have a study lounge overlooking the garden behind the Rackham Building.

The media gateway in the center of the building will also contain high-tech group-study areas, including video walls. The walls will have a video camera and a large screen, enabling live conversation with people around the world.

The residence hall will boast an updated dining facility similar to the Hill Dining Center slated to open adjacent to Mosher-Jordan in 2008. With several stations cooking and serving foods including stir-fry, pizza and grill-style sandwiches, students' hunger for made-to-order meals will be satisfied, Henry said.

North Quad will also feature a eatery and study area called the Image Caf