Plans move forward for U-M’s LSA addition

March 16, 2017
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  • umichnews@umich.edu

A sign in front of the LSA building.ANN ARBOR — A new space in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts building will serve future University of Michigan undergraduates as the “hub” for connecting their passions to their education come summer 2019.

The U-M Board of Regents approved the schematic design for the LSA first floor renovation and addition project Thursday.

“I am thrilled that the regents have approved the redesign of the LSA Building, which will be a home for LSA students and the Opportunity Hub,” said LSA Dean Andrew Martin. “The hub will become an integral part of students’ experiences at the college from the moment they arrive on campus.”

The project will revitalize approximately 24,000 square feet on the first floor and construct an addition of approximately 21,000 square feet. The addition will be constructed on the west side of the building, facing Regents’ Plaza and the iconic cube sculpture.

The space, which will house the LSA Opportunity Hub and the LSA Internship Program, is intended to encourage interaction through an open, welcoming, vibrant and student-focused design.

The LSA Opportunity Hub is a college initiative dedicated to pairing the skills of a liberal arts education with real-life experience, strategic advising and the benefit of connecting with employers and alumni. It will serve as the central location for students to connect their liberal arts education to their life and career goals.

Students also will be connected to LSA and university-wide opportunities such as internships, funding and mentoring.

“When completed, this will be a dynamic new space designed to help students pursue vital experiences outside of the classroom and to connect those experiences with their coursework and their lives after college,” said Paula Wishart, assistant dean of student development and career initiatives for the LSA Opportunity Hub.

At the September 2016 meeting, the Board of Regents approved the project and the appointment of SmithGroupJJR as the architect for its design.

The project includes architectural, electrical and mechanical work. Funding for the $35 million renovation project will be provided from LSA resources. Project construction is scheduled to complete in summer 2019 and expected to provide an average of 47 onsite construction jobs.

There will be a temporary loss of some adjacent parking spaces during construction, along with the permanent displacement of 15 parking spaces.

 

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