The University Record, October 2, 1995
REGENTS’ ROUNDUP
The Regents approved a number of building and construction projects at their September meeting. They include:
Additional space for Kinesiology to be built
The Regents approved the proposed construction of additional space for the Division of Kinesiology.
“The Division, located in the Central Campus Recreation and Margaret Bell Pool buildings, has a serious space shortage,” Executive Vice President Farris W. Womack said. “Space has become the limiting factor in the Division’s effort to meet critical needs, such as the changes in academic programs and the increased size of the student and faculty bodies.
“The proposed additional space will be accomplished by adding two floors, approximately 10,000 square feet, above the existing former Bell Pool lobby area and extending over some of the second floor roof area.”
The project is estimated to cost $2 million with funding provided by a combination of gifts and University funds.
The Regents also authorized the University to complete the project’s design work, solicit bids and award a construction contract. Construction will begin in the spring of 1996 and be completed in about one year.
East Campus to get mammography facility, radiology room
The Regents approved the addition of a mammography facility and a radiology room to the proposed Primary Care Facility on the new East Campus.
“We propose to create a mammography facility on the East Campus that will not only support the Primary Care Facility, but also will function as a referral center that will handle patients from many of the newly created U-M clinics in the surrounding area,” Womack said.
“In order to fully function as a complete radiology referral center, we also propose to add an additional radiology imaging room within the Primary Care Facility.”
The mammography suite will include some 6,400 gross square feet and is estimated to cost $2,550,000, including more than $1 million in furnishings and medical equipment.
308-space parking lot to occupy apartment site
The Regents approved the proposed construction of a 308-space parking lot on the site now occupied by the Terrace Apartment Buildings on the Medical Campus.
“The construction of this parking lot is essential in the Medical Center’s effort to balance existing and projected parking demands with the current and future plans for parking facility improvements,” Womack said. “This new lot will allow us to reduce the size of the Old Main Parking Lot, so that green space and pedestrian traffic can be enhanced in the center of the Medical Campus.
“The U-M Hospitals obtained the land and apartment buildings from University Housing. Due to the age and condition of the apartments,” Womack explained, “Housing determined that renovation of the units would be cost-prohibitive. The buildings were vacated last month.”
Demolition of the buildings will be scheduled for this fall and the parking lot will be completed next summer. The estimated cost of the project is $2.5 million.
Renovation of Women’s OK’d
The Regents approved the proposed renovation of Women’s Hospital Building and the project’s estimated budget of $10.1 million, and named the firm of Giffels Hoyem Bassoc Inc. as the project’s architect/engineer.
“As part of the Mott Renewal project, Women’s Hospital was slated to be demolished,” Womack said. “The building had outlived its usefulness and would have required significant investment to renew its systems and functionality for long-term continued use as an inpatient facility. During the Mott Renewal project, occupants with office functions were temporarily placed in Women’s Hospital and were slated to relocate to new buildings in the future.
“However, the U-M Hospitals’ current strategy to limit capital expenditure in the development of new buildings has generated a recommendation of continued occupancy of Women’s Hospital as an office building for the medium term—approximately 10 years.
“This strategy minimizes capital expenditure for ‘bricks and mortar,’ while affording the Medical Center time to assess the impact of potential mergers, joint ventures, affiliations, and other strategic initiatives and their potential effect on capital reserves.
“As a part of this capital strategy,” Womack said, “it is less costly to renovate Women’s Hospital for the medium term for office functions, rather than replace it.
“As such, those functions that were slated to move into new buildings, and other space needs for program expansions, will be accommodated in Women’s either directly or by relocating programs from other existing Medical Center buildings.”
Womack said that Women’s Hospital also requires an upgrade of major building components and systems, such as improvement in heating and air conditioning.
Med Inn to be renovated
The Regents approved the proposed renovation of the Med Inn Building on the Medical Campus, the project’s estimated budget of $5.4 million and the submission of a Certificate of Need application to the Michigan Department of Public Health.
“The Cancer Center’s administration is temporarily located in the Simpson Institute and in adjacent trailers,” Womack explained. “These offices were originally programmed into the Cancer and Geriatrics Centers building but were deleted in order to maximize clinical activity usage.
“We now propose to relocate the administration into the Med Inn Building, contingent upon relocation of some of the current occupants.
“Relocation of Med Inn occupants was originally contingent upon expansion opportunities at East Campus. Given the current volatile health-care environment, expansion at the East Campus is not advisable at this time.
“The Regents’ decision to maintain Women’s Hospital as an office building for the next 10 years now affords the opportunity to relocate the occupants of the Med Inn Building to allow relocation of most of the Cancer Center administration.”
The project involves relocating six units or groups.
Utility tunnel maintenance OK’d
The Regents approved a $285,000 maintenance repair project involving a utility tunnel on the northeast side of Central Campus.
“Recent analysis indicates a need to replace existing steam line expansion joints and provide new anchors and guides in a section of tunnel between Stockwell Residence Hall and the Ruthven Museum,” Womack said.
