There’s $2B in construction going on now at the University of Michigan

Apr 07, 2024

ANN ARBOR, MI - Orange cones. White detour signs. The whirs of a helicopter lowering lights into Michigan Stadium.

Construction is going all around Ann Arbor this summer, and some of the most prominent projects are on the University of Michigan campus.

The list of work on campus is long, spanning from a new, expanded gym to a residence hall complex to replacements and renovations galore. The combined cost of these construction projects throughout campus is more than $2 billion.

Here’s what’s underway.

Contractors assemble the block “M” on the south-facing side of a new scoreboard at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, July 11, 2023.Jacob Hamilton | MLive.comJacob Hamilton | MLive.com

Michigan Stadium scoreboard replacement

The paneling is nearly done for the scoreboard replacement at The Big House that was announced in March. Work expects to be done in time for the fall football season.

The University of Michigan’s Board of Regents unanimously approved the $41-million, privately-funded project for the 107,601-seat football stadium at the corner of S. Main Street and E. Stadium Blvd.

According to the action letter proposed by UM Athletic Director Warde Manuel, the new scoreboards will be the same height — 62 feet — and wider than the 108 feet they currently take up.

While the two video boards themselves are only expected to cost $12 million, Michigan plans to spend an additional $12 million on infrastructure, site work and design.

The rest of the funds go toward upgrades to the production studios at Crisler Center, which serves multiple athletic facilities across campus, including Michigan Stadium, Yost Ice Arena, field hockey, baseball, softball and indoor track. The studios are also key to producing content for the Big Ten Network, officials said.

Read more: Michigan approves new $41 million scoreboard project

Michigan Medicine’s new Pavilion hospital building under construction at the corner of Zina Pitcher Drive and and East Ann Street in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, July 11, 2023.Jacob Hamilton | MLive.comJacob Hamilton | MLive.com

Pavilion at University of Michigan Health

The most expensive project underway is the $920-million clinical inpatient tower for Michigan Medicine that has been under construction since spring 2021.

The frame of the Pavilion at University of Michigan Health is coming together to resemble the schematic design approved in June 2021.

The facility was initially set to open in fall 2024, but officials pushed the timeline a year to fall 2025 due to multiple COVID-19 pandemic factors.

The 12-story, 690,000-square-foot building will include 264 private rooms and an additional 110 private rooms in University Hospital by reducing semi-private rooms. This reduction was made to “improve patient safety, quality and experience, while creating space for family members to participate in their loved one’s care, healing and recovery,” according to a June 2021 UM news release.

The 264 private rooms will be capable of converting to intensive care, a state-of-the-art neurological and neurosurgical center, high-level, specialty care services for cardiovascular and thoracic patients, along with advanced imaging.

The future site of a Michigan Marching Band practice facility on the former Fingerle Lumber site in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, July 11, 2023.Jacob Hamilton | MLive.comJacob Hamilton | MLive.com

New marching band practice facility

The price tag on the new practice facility for the Michigan Marching Band is $15.4 million.

The facility, which is replacing the old Elbel Field to make way for a new student residence hall complex, will be located on the old Fingerle Lumber location off Hill Street. That parcel of land was purchased in 2018.

While the site has been paved, little development has occurred since the university’s regents approved the project in February 2023.

Like the old practice field, the 3-acre facility will be named after Louis Elbel, the writer of the famous university fight song “The Victors.”

The new Elbel Field will feature field lighting, an instructional tower, fencing and bleachers like the current location. Additional amenities include a secondary, partial practice field, sound amplification system, updated audio-visual technology, overhead cameras and a video board.

The western side of the property will feature a pedestrian walkway called Wolverine Way, which will connect the facility with the band’s indoor Revelli Hall.

The completion is scheduled for August prior to football season, officials said. The old Elbel Field has not been torn down, making it available for use should the new facility remain unfinished at that time.

A rendering of the upcoming Central Campus residence hall approved by University of Michigan on Thursday, Feb. 16. Design provided by Robert A.M. Stern Architects.Robert A.M. Stern Architects

New Central Campus residence hall complex

Construction has yet to begin on this $490-million project that aims to bring about 4,500 beds for Central Campus students.

The regents approved construction in February, including a first phase to build a 2,300-bed residence hall. A second phase, which requires the university to acquire more Ann Arbor land, would bring another 2,200 beds to the complex.

The estimated cost could go as high as $540 million, university President Santo Ono said in February. The first phase will be located on the old Elbel Field between East Hoover Avenue and Hill Street.

The first 1,300 beds are expected to become available for students by fall 2025, UM Chief Financial Officer Geoffrey Chatas said at the February regents meeting. The remaining 1,000 beds plan to open by fall 2026, officials said.

Read more: Eminent domain ‘threat’ looms over property holdouts in University of Michigan dorm plan

Construction of the Temporary Recreation Facility is nearly complete at Palmer Field on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023.Jacob Hamilton

Central Campus Recreation Building replacement

Construction is underway around Palmer Field to make room for the new, expanded Central Campus Recreation Building.

Initially projected to cost $150 million, supply chain issues after the COVID-19 pandemic bumped the cost of the building to $165 million.

Located at 401 Washtenaw Ave. near Palmer Field, the future 200,000-square-foot sports center will support campus community health and wellness through modern gymnastics courts, an indoor track, strength and cardio rooms, group exercise rooms, pools, climbing areas, squash and racquetball courts and locker rooms, according to a UM news release. There will also be administrative and support spaces.

A temporary gym is located in the white building atop Palmer Field. The replacement project should finish by spring 2025.

Read more: New University of Michigan student rec center now expected to cost $165M

Vivarium expansion for the Taubman Biomedical Science Research Building

Starting in winter 2020, this $19-million expansion will add 20,000 square feet to the Taubman building at 109 Zina Pilcher Place near Palmer Field.

The proposed project will expand the existing vivarium - an enclosed area for observation and research of plants or animals - to address current and forecasted growth, while accommodating the relocation of germ-free vivarium functions from UM’s Life Sciences Institute to the Taubman research building.

The Medical School project is expected to be completed this winter.

A rendering of the proposed Leinweber Building that will serve as the new School of Information off Hayward Street on North Campus at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Photo provided by University of Michigan.University of Michigan

Leinweber Computer Science and Information Building

This $145-million building will be the new home of the School of Information. Currently on Central Campus, the school will relocate to this 163,000 square-foot building off Hayward Street on North Campus.

The project started last spring and is on schedule for completion by summer 2025. The state-of-the-art facility was partially funded by a $25 million gift by software entrepreneur Larry Leinweber.

Hayward Street Geothermal Facility

Connected to the Leinweber building will be a geothermal facility also off Hayward Street to provide the building renewable heating and cooling.

The geothermal facility will cost an additional $20 million, which goes towards an energy system that takes heat from the Earth’s constant temperature underground. This allows Leinweber to be an all-electric building and not rely on natural gas.

The estimated completion is winter 2025.

UM Health University Hospital electrical substation replacement

The electrical distribution system substation serves the UM Health University Hospital, and is more than 30 years old. The replacement, which will cost $11.7 million, started construction in summer 2022 and expects to be done by summer 2024.

Michigan Medicine Clinical Pathology relocation and renovation

Since summer 2016, this $160-million project has spanned North Campus and the Michigan Medicine campus.

Pathology labs that were located within University Hospital and its south building, the North Ingalls Building and more were be relocated to the North Campus Research Complex by summer 2019. The Michigan Medical Genetics Laboratory of the Department of Pediatrics is also now housed at the research complex.

In addition, labs at University Hospital and its south building will be renovated. This is expected to be done by the end of 2023.

In total, the replacements and renovations affect about 186,000 square feet of work.

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