Plans to construct a new football performance center and provide infrastructure improvements in the Bennie Oosterbaan Field House were approved Thursday by the Board of Regents.
The $21 million project calls for a 32,000-square-foot performance center to be built within the 78,000 square-foot field house, which will be used for strength and conditioning training for the football program. The project also calls for the addition of a 5,000-square-foot mezzanine level.
Oosterbaan Field House, constructed in 1980, currently serves as the indoor home playing field for men’s and women’s lacrosse and is used by U-M Athletics for indoor practice for a variety of sports.
The building is connected to Schembechler Hall and the Al Glick Field House, which house the Michigan football team.
The project also will address infrastructure and life-safety needs, such as replacing the existing roof, installing new fire alarm and suppression systems, and upgrading the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and lighting systems throughout the building.
The architectural firms of Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates in association with HNTB will design the project. Construction is scheduled to be completed in the winter of 2018 with no impact to parking. The project is expected to provide an average of 56 on-site construction jobs.
Funding will be provided from Athletic Department resources and gifts.
