Building renovations approved by regents

The Earl V. Moore Building renovation is set to proceed after the Regents voted to approve the project’s schematic designs and a small budget increase. The renovation was initially approved by the regents at their Nov. 2012 meeting.

The School of Music, Theatre & Dance facility on North Campus will benefit from renovated classroom spaces and the construction of an additional wing including a lecture hall, performance space and new lobby. The project has a budget of $24 million and construction is expected to conclude by fall 2015.

Though the regents approved schematic designs for the Munger Graduate Residences last April, the regents voted Friday to award project bids before construction commences. The project will cost $185 million, with $100 million funded by a donation from University alum Charles Munger, vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. The new residence will be home to around 630 graduate students.

The regents also approved construction of a new transportation research facility, sponsored by the University and grants from the State of Michigan’s Department of Transportation. Coleman lauded the project and noted Stephen Forrest, University vice president of research, had lobbied the board to approve the project.

Between the approval of upcoming construction projects, the regents also approved two name changes on the athletic campus in honor of University donors. After donating $200 million to the University’s business school and athletic department last month, the regents voted to rename much of South campus as the Stephen M. Ross Athletic Campus. The University will also rename the renovated softball facility after University alum Donald R. Shepherd, who previously donated $25 million to the University.

The board also approved plans to relocate Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, or ROTC, operations from North Hall to the Chemistry Building, Dow Laboratory and Ruthven Museums. The University will renovate spaces within those buildings to better house the program — at a cost of $4 million.

Approximately 15,000 square feet of renovated office space will be transformed into physical fitness rooms, administrative function spaces and classrooms in the Chemistry Building and the Dow Laboratory. Approximately 6,000 square feet of the Ruthven Museums will include classrooms and storage spaces.

The project is slated for completion in fall 2014 and will be designed by architectural firm SmithGroupJJR — a contractor frequently used by the University.

At the meeting, Tim Slottow, executive vice president and chief financial officer, said he is ready to propose to demolish North Hall. Although the purpose of the space has yet to be determined, Coleman said in an interview Monday the building will be part of a “larger construction plan,” which will be rolled out during this academic year.

North Hall was constructed between 1899-1900 as a Homeopathy Hospital but became an extension of the main University Hospital after the regents discontinued the independent Homeopathic Medical School in 1922. It was turned over to the Navy in 1940 and has been an ROTC facility ever since.