ANN ARBOR—The University of Michigan Board of Regents, at its Nov. 16 meeting, took the following actions related to facilities projects on the Ann Arbor campus.

• Women’s Gymnastics Facility: A new facility for the women’s gymnastics program will be built adjacent to the tennis facility on South State Street.

“Over the past 10 years, the women’s gymnastics program has finished consistently among the top 10 teams in the country, garnering eight Big Ten titles,” said Henry D. Baier, associate vice president for facilities and operations. “During that time, approximately 40 U-M women gymnasts have maintained a GPA of 3.5 or better.

“The current facility, located in the Coliseum Building and last renovated 10 years ago, falls significantly short of meeting training requirements. The new, 20,000-gross-square-foot building will include open space for training, locker rooms, exercise rooms and offices,” Baier explained.

The Regents approved appointing David W. Osler Associates Inc. as the architect for design of the project, estimated to cost $3.2 million. Funding will be provided from a pledged donation of $3.5 million over the next six years that will include $300,000 to cover life-cycle maintenance of the building and contingency support.

• Science Instruction Center Building/Palmer Drive Life Sciences Complex: The Regents authorized the appointment of the SmithGroup Inc. as the architect-of-record and Michael Wilford Architects Ltd., London, England, to lead the design of the Science Instruction Center Building. The building will be located on top of the Palmer Drive Parking Structure in the area that will be home to the Life Sciences Institute Building and the Commons Building.

The Regents approved proceeding with planning of the building at their September 2000 meeting. 

• Palmer Drive Central Chillers/Life Sciences Complex: The Regents approved issuing this project for bids and awarding a construction contract. The central chiller plant at the Palmer Drive site will support the Life Sciences Institute Building, the Palmer Drive Commons Building, the Walgreen Drama Center and the Undergraduate Science Center. Central chillers are an efficient and cost-effective way to provide and maintain air conditioning for these buildings. The anticipated cost is $8.7 million, with funding from Utility Department Central Power Plant Maintenance and Equipment funds and other central sources.
• Yost Arena seating: With the design phase of this project nearing completion, the Regents approved issuing the project for bids and awarding construction contracts. The project, estimated to cost $1.4 million, will see the addition of approximately 300 premium seats in a new upper-level balcony on the east side of Yost Arena. Funding will be provided through hockey game ticket sales. Preparation work will begin this winter as the project must be completed by the start of the next hockey season, Oct. 2, 2001. Construction will begin after the close of this year’s hockey season. The Regents approved the project in July 2000 and Rossetti and Associates Inc. was appointed architect.
• UMHHC Chillers: Beginning in fall 2001, four chillers that are part of the University Hospital infrastructure will be replaced over a three-to-five-year time frame to meet increasing demands for cooling. The Regents approved replacement of one chiller and issuing the project for bids at an estimated cost of $4.4 million. Funding will be provided by the U-M Hospitals and Health Centers (UMHHC) Department of Facilities.