Future generations of University students may soon reap the benefits of renovated buildings and student spaces if a vision by campus leaders and University officials to drastically improve campus buildings becomes reality.

A group of student leaders, University officials and architecture consultants from around the nation gathered on Saturday for a Student Vision Retreat — an event held to discuss ways to improve the University’s unions and recreational sports facilities before the University's bicentennial in 2017.

Saturday’s discussion marked the beginning of a phase of student input that is being facilitated by Michigan Student Assembly President DeAndree Watson and student leaders. After evaluating student feedback, the Division of Student Affairs intends to draft a plan for the design, construction and funding of the renovations.

At the start of the discussions, Watson encouraged students to incorporate their experience on campus into the vision for improving buildings such as the Michigan Union, Michigan League and Pierpont Commons.

“Think about what issues exist today and how a student would respond to those 20 to 30 years from now (and) what should be in place for these students to have a worthwhile campus experience for the future,” Watson said.

Loren Rullman, associate vice president for student affairs, attended the retreat and said he has been evaluating the conditions of buildings on campus for the past few years to determine potential renovations that could enhance student life.

As a part of the process, the University has conducted numerous surveys and focus groups, collaborated with consultants and sent representatives to tour other universities around the nation for inspiration on how to design the buildings.

Rullman said during the event that while the University values strengthening academic programs and initiatives, it also places importance on enhancing the campus atmosphere to meet the increasing needs of the growing student body.

“We are totally committed to the student experience,” he said. “We know that what happens in the classroom is critical, but we also happen to believe that the learning, the experience, the interactions we have outside the classroom is really what defines and creates the Michigan experience.”

During the event, planners and architects from consultant groups that have been working with the University on potential renovation plans shared their designs with students and encouraged feedback on their ideas.

Greg Havens, planner and architect for Sasaki Associates in Watertown, MA., presented the results of a recreational sports study, which identified potential improvements for the three recreational facilities at the University — the Central Campus Recreation Building, the Intramural Sports Building and the North Campus Recreation Building.

The study calls for the improvement and expansion of outdoor field space with upgraded turf, revitalization of the Intramural Sports Building and a focus on student and faculty well-being and fitness.

The study also highlighted the lack of space in the University’s gyms and sports facilities. With over 41,000 students currently enrolled, the designs of the facilities allot six square feet per student. However, the industry standard is eight to 10 square feet per student, according to the study.

Haven proposed adding 134,000 square feet to the facilities, with about 84 percent, or 112,560 square feet, of the total additional space allocated to the North Campus Recreational Building and the remaining portion to the Central Campus Recreational Building.

At the retreat, Public Policy senior Nina Bhattacharya voiced her concern about the lack of dance spaces at the University’s gym facilities.