The University of Michigan Board of Regents today approved a $56 million renovation for Alice Crocker Lloyd Hall, which houses about 560 students.

The project will update infrastructure in 176,000 square-foot residence hall, including new plumbing, heating, cooling ventilation and suppression systems; wired and wireless high-speed network access; renovated bath facilities and accessibility improvement.

A dance practice and multipurpose space; an art studio, music practice rooms and other learning areas will be created. The funding will come from the housing department’s resources.

In other action, Regents:

• Approved the naming of the law school’s new commons in honor of Robert B. Aikens. Aikens, a 1954 graduate of the school, gave $10 million toward the project. This is the largest gift ever given to the law school by a living individual, U-M officials said.
• Approved $2 million for renovations of geological laboratories in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts in the Clarence Cook Little Science Building.
• Approved $1.85 million for a renovation project in the school of social work’s atrium. A renovation of approximately 18,400 gross square feet is planned for a new clinical suite for students to work on a variety of projects.
• Heard from four representatives of the Graduate Employees Organization and graduate student research assistants. A number asked for the GSRA to be able to join the GEO union, which is currently negotiating a new contract with the university. The GEO has asked for 3 percent raises in the first two years of the contract. That amounts to a raise of $518 per year, Daniel Marcin, the treasurer of the union, told regents.

David Jesse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidjesse@annarbor.com or at 734-623-2534.