Schembechler Hall to become more publicly accessible after $9M renovation
After Schembechler Hall's $9 million renovation, the home of Michigan football will be open to the public, University of Michigan CFO and Executive Vice President Timothy Slottow said during a Board of Regents meeting Thursday.
Michigan football player Brandon Herron holds the door to Schembechler Hall open for his teammates.
The renovation, however, will provide a facelift for the building's entrance and allow anyone to enter the Margaret Dow Towsley Sports Museum section of the hall, while still restricting them from the football facilities.
"This will completely change the entrance ... and integrate the museum," Slottow said of the renovation. "This is a rethinking of the whole entrance and feel of the museum."
Regent Andrea Fischer Newman implored Slottow to make the museum portion accessible to visitors.
"If we're going to spend $9 million in funds we need to make sure it's open to the public," Newman said.
Regents unanimously approved project, which will be funded entirely by athletic department resources, and the appointment of Grand Rapids firm Integrated Architecture to design the renovation.
Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.
Comments
timski
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 2:11 p.m.
Andrea ,Thank You ! Ive been torn to-have been turned away(and may-be once secuuity called) from seeing oure history, If it took a woman with two last names to bring it to the people,God Bless Her.
arborani
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 4:16 p.m.
Andrea. Fischer. Newman.
ferdcom
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 2:29 p.m.
What???
63Townie
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 12:56 p.m.
About time! It seemed silly to have the sports museum inside, yet not have it available to the public.
jcj
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 4:01 a.m.
"If we're going to spend $9 million in funds we need to make sure it's open to the public," Newman said. That should have been a no brainer when it was built in the first place! Hope the elitist attitude that is prevalent at the U of M will be changed a little.
Scott
Sat, Jan 21, 2012 : 11:52 a.m.
No kidding. By her saying that it implies they were not going to have it accessible to the public. That elitists attitude will never go away. It's the new America.