An aerial view of University of Michigan's downtown Ann Arbor campus.
The school is putting a $60 million South Quadrangle dormitory renovation to bid to area contractors. Renovation of the 1,180-bed dorm's dining center, common areas and bathrooms was approved by the school's governing board in September and the schematic design was approved last month. South Quad will become a dining hub of central campus as the school plans to close nearby dining centers.
Construction will take a year, ending the summer of 2014. U-M officials estimate the project will provide an average of 131 on-site construction jobs.
Meanwhile, the school also is putting the construction of a 10,200-square-foot new softball facility to bid. The project was first approved by regents, who OK'd the $4 million budget, in October. Now, officials are asking to increase the construction budget to $5.3 million, with all funding provided by athletic department resources.
That project is expected to provide an average of 19 jobs and be completed by winter 2014.
The softball facility is part of an effort by athletic director Dave Brandon to put $250 million into upgrading non-revenue sports facilities in coming years.
The revised project budget and schematic design, along with authorization to issue both projects for construction bids, will be discussed by the Board of Regents during a public meeting Thursday at 3 p.m. at the Michigan Union.
The design for a $55 million renovation to 137,000 square feet of the Alfred Taubman Health Sciences Library, a project first approved in September, also will be discussed by regents.
The upgrade includes a new clinical simulation area for the medical school, a study area and a computer lab, in addition to the renovation of the existing library, which is primarily used by medical and pharmaceutical researchers and students.
Regents also will discuss a $1.8 million roof replacement for the Earl V. Moore building, which houses U-M's School of Music, Theater and Dance. The roof on that building, which is scheduled to receive a separate $23.5 million renovation, was last replaced in 1986, according to a university memo.
That project is expected to provide 18 construction jobs and be completed in the fall, while the library renovation is anticipated to provide 72 construction jobs and be completed in the fall of 2015.
Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.