The state Legislature has approved a bill that will partially fund the renovation of three U-M academic buildings — one each in Ann Arbor, Flint and Dearborn.
The legislation, approved early Friday on the last day of the legislative session, provides $383 million in state funding for nearly $1 billion in projects. Lawmakers limited funding to no more than $30 million for an individual project.
“We appreciate the state’s support for these priority projects,” says Cynthia Wilbanks, vice president for governmental affairs. “The governor, state budget director and legislative leaders played important roles in this successful outcome.”
The U-M projects are:
• Ann Arbor — Renovation of the G.G. Brown Memorial Building, built in 1958 for the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The state will provide $30 million toward a project estimated at $64 million on North Campus. This renovation is separate from the building addition approved by the Board of Regents in 2009.
• Dearborn — Renovation of the science and the computer information buildings. Both are original to the 1959 campus. The project will upgrade the buildings with new research and instructional technology. The state will provide $30 million toward a $51 million project that encompasses both buildings.
• Flint — Renovation of the Murchie Science Laboratory Building will create a science education facility to better prepare K-12 teachers and equip students for careers in science, technology and engineering. Total cost of the project is estimated at $22.17 million. The state will provide $16.628 million.
Each project will come before the Board of Regents for approval as specific plans are developed.
The last capital outlay funding that U-M received was in 2005 for the Ann Arbor and Flint campuses and 1999 for Dearborn.
To read the full capital outlay request submitted to the state, go to www.regents.umich.edu/meetings/01-10/2010-1-IX-1.pdf.
