At their regularly scheduled meeting Thursday, the University’s Board of Regents is set to approve several improvement and relocation projects. These renovation plans include a new Athletic Department center, revamping the Ross School of Business and a series of North Campus projects.
Ross set to undergo renovations
The regents plan to approve a series of renovations to various parts of the Ross School of Business, expected to cost $135 million overall.
Among the areas scheduled for upgrades are the Kresge Business Administration Library, demolition of the Computer and Executive Education Building and the construction of an academic building in its place, and facade improvements. The project will add classrooms, offices and other study spaces, totaling to approximately 75,000 square feet of renovated space and 104,000 square feet of the new building construction.
According to a communication to the regents by Tim Slottow, executive vice president and chief financial officer, the project will “create a unified look for the entire Ross School complex of buildings.”
The project will be funded by donations and investment returns and is scheduled for completion in fall 2016.
Ross students are invited to a forum to discuss what will go into the new building on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at the business school. The New Building Student Communications Task Force, student representatives from the Dean’s Office, will lead the discussion
Athletic Department seeks new operations center
With the initial project approved by the regents in November, the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will request approval for the schematic design of a new building to centralize many undersized functions housed across the Stephen M. Ross Athletic Campus.
The $6 million building will be funded completely by the Athletic Department, and will accommodate maintenance shops, offices, laundry, shipping and receiving and equipment storage across 18,000 square feet.
Slottow and Athletic Director Dave Brandon recommended Niagara Murano, LLC to serve as the architect for the project.
Construction is scheduled for completion in summer 2015.
Temporary use for North Campus Research Complex renovations explored
With comprehensive renovations to the G. G. Brown Laboratories on North Campus set to begin, the Department of Chemical Engineering is preparing to transfer some operations to a temporary new home.
The regents are set to approve the temporary relocation of the department to the currently vacant Building 28 on the North Campus Research Complex. Building 28 was purchased in 2009 and will require an estimated $2.3 million to make lab space viable for the department’s temporary use.
Construction is scheduled for completion in summer 2016.
North Campus grove plans seek approval
The regents will also consider a project for upgrades to the central lawn on North Campus.
The estimated $6.9 million project will create a central plaza, new walkways, integrated seating, an informal amphitheater and additional lighting, among other additions. The lawn covers about four acres currently. Funding will flow from gifts and College of Engineering resources.
Adjacent parking will be temporarily impacted during construction. The architectural firm Stoss will design the project.
No construction schedule is apparent yet, but design will begin immediately upon approval.