Undergraduate housing options will expand after the approval of a $190 million North Campus housing project that will add 1,200 beds. The Board of Regents approved the project Feb. 17.
“We know that the residential living experience is a significant part of the overall student experience, and these additional residential spaces will serve as hubs for vibrant and active community building on North Campus,” said Vice President for Student Life Martino Harmon.
Harmon said the three new buildings, covering 380,000 square feet, will help meet demand from students for on-campus housing options.
The new residence halls will replace the 500 beds in the Northwood III buildings, which are now only used for COVID-19 quarantine and isolation housing. Those buildings will be demolished.
The project also will enable future development at the site, including dining, student wellness support spaces and a geothermal facility to heat and cool the complex. These projects will be presented to the Board of Regents in a future action request, Harmon said.
The new residence halls will be designed to be carbon neutral and achieve Gold certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system used by the U.S. Green Building Council.
To meet the project schedule for opening the new buildings by fall 2024, the board also approved issuing bids and awarding contracts for abatement and demolition activities, site utility work and other preparatory work at a cost not to exceed $5 million.
The architectural firm of Solomon Cordwell Buenz will design the project. The project is expected to provide an average of 158 on-site construction jobs. A construction schedule will be provided during the approval of schematic design at a future meeting.
Funding will be provided from Student Life resources.
Monica Rem
This is great news!
Just wondering about the vacant housing at Baits I next to parking lot NC32. It appears to have been vacant for over three years now. Though I see U-M Catering is utilizing some space for offices during the Michigan Union renovation. Though now that the Union renovation is complete, it appears they are still there-perhaps these buildings will be renovated for office use?