Next steps for $122M in construction projects before University of Michigan regents on Thursday
The University of Michigan is looking to increase the budget for an addition to its Institute of Social Research by $6 million, bringing the total cost to $29 million.
The additional money expands the scope of the project to include a 56,700-square-foot addition, up from the 44,700 square feet proposed in 2010.
Portions of the existing ISR building, located on Thompson Street in Ann Arbor, will receive upgrades.
The project will solve a persistent space problem for the institute, an inadequacy that's led some of ISR's centers and programs to seek shelter elsewhere on campus or lease off-campus space.
For example, the institute's Quantitative Methodology Program is leasing the second floor of a building on 777 North University. The 26-month lease costs $83,870 a year and the 20-person program plans to move back to Thompson Street when ISR's expansion is complete.
A rendering of the Institute of Social Research expansion when the project was projected at $23 million and 44,700 square feet.
Photo courtesy of the University of Michigan
The Board of Regents will vote on whether to approve the $6 million budget increase at its meeting Thursday.
Regents will also consider the schematic design for a new $50 million School of Nursing building, which eliminates 125 parking spaces and is scheduled to be completed in 2015.
Additionally, the schematic design for a 700-space, $34 million parking structure on Wall Street, a structure that's incited the concern of local residents, is before the regents for approval.
The board will vote on the schematic design for the $9 million entrance and museum renovation to Schembechler Hall, a football program facility on South Campus.
The Schembechler Hall renovation, new nursing school and parking structure were initially approved by regents earlier this year.
The four projects, when combined, will cost $122 million and are part of a larger construction surge at the school.
Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.
Comments
ChrisW
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 6:40 p.m.
Ugly building.
Dog Guy
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 4:15 p.m.
Scientists will get society all straightened out as soon as ISR counts everything. There will then be no Comments at annarbor.com because a federal comments czar will issue us our thoughts. A 56,700-square-foot addition will probably not be large enough.
leaguebus
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 4:46 p.m.
Thats right Dog, we need less taxes, less government, less pesky research, and more guns. All that government sponsored research has done nothing for us in the past. LOL. Oh, thats right, I would not be typing on my Mac if it was not for government funded research. But who's counting.
Pablo
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 3:31 p.m.
Does anyone know if the university has scheduled/announced a longer-range major, capital-spending plan? It would be helpful to know what is envisioned for, say, the next 10 years in these MAJOR projects. I read that a recently announced major sports-related project is coming "out of the sports department," as if those funds aren't related to income, as a result of students' and other folks' spending, directly or indirectly. Then, there's the hospital complex...wondering where, if ever, it will ever stop!
jon67
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 7:18 p.m.
It will never stop........ nor should it.
Jay Thomas
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 3:30 p.m.
Thank goodness, because I've felt that social research was falling behind for a long time now.
yohan
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 12:24 p.m.
Why can UM build a 700 space parking structure for $34 million and the Hieftje and the DDA took in excess of $50 million to build the same for the city?
aatom
Tue, Jul 17, 2012 : 12:36 p.m.
Build up not down, air is free and massive quantities of earth removal is not.