The schematic design for a new wrestling facility was approved June 19 by the Board of Regents. The new building will be built adjacent to the Preston Robert Tisch Tennis and the Donald R. Shephard Women’s Gymnastics facilities on South State Street.
The $5.5 million, 18,000-gross-square-foot building was designed by Jickling Powell Associates Inc. of Bloomfield Hills.
“We are very excited about this new facility,” says Joe McFarland, head wrestling coach. “We really needed more space, and we needed all the elements in place that we felt would make us a national championship team. This is going to help us reach that level.”
The new facility will include a two-story indoor practice area with three regulation wrestling mats. It also will feature athletic medicine areas, strength and conditioning space, a locker room and storage area.
The design reflects Michigan’s athletic tradition and will complement surrounding athletic facilities. The building materials will be a combination of brick and metal with the main entrance highlighted by a curved two-story wall of glass. On the south façade of the facility, a series of large windows will face a natural wooded wetland area. A standing seam metal roof will be highlighted by a ribbon window that wraps around the entire structure.
Construction is scheduled to be complete in fall 2009.
