The Board of Regents on Thursday approved construction of the new Department of Intercollegiate Athletics Operations Center.

The Athletic Operations Center will increase efficiency by centralizing all facility and maintenance operations. Currently, these procedures take place in various facilities across the Stephen M. Ross Athletic Campus.

The new center will house the department’s maintenance shops and offices, laundry, shipping and receiving and equipment storage. By combining these operations in one central location the department will increase overall organization, productivity, and effectiveness.

The new facility, which will be located to the south of Stadium Boulevard on South State Street, will be approximately 18,000 gross square feet. This project is estimated to cost $6 million, and funds will be provided by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.

The regents also authorized the commissioning of Niagarea Murano, whose architectural firm will design the project. The design stage of the project is scheduled to begin immediately and the construction schedule is soon to come.