You are viewing this article in the AnnArbor.com archives. For the latest breaking news and updates in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area, see MLive.com/ann-arbor
Posted on Thu, Apr 19, 2012 : 5:09 p.m.

University of Michigan to invest $62M in upcoming library renovations

By Kellie Woodhouse

The University of Michigan Board of Regents voted Thursday afternoon to approve $62 million in library renovations.

u-mtaubmanlibrary.png

University of Michigan Taubman Health Services Library

Photo courtesy of U-M.

The A. Alfred Taubman Health Sciences Library is set to receive a $55 million upgrade that includes the addition of a clinical simulation area for the medical school, a study area and a computer lab, in addition to the renovation of the existing library.

"It's very important for our students in pharmacy and medicine," U-M Provost Philip Hanlon said of the proposed renovations, which have been in the works for two years.

The renovation will move a portion of the library's books off site, but school officials say they're putting a plan in place for students to access them.

Regents also approved a $7 million renovation of the law school's Hutchins Hall and William W. Cook Legal Research Library, which was vacated after the school moved administrative offices and classrooms into the recently built South Hall, located on Monroe Street, in October.

The school this year also opened Robert. B Aikens Commons, a two-level glass roofed student gathering space built on a formerly unused courtyard. Regents recently approved a multimillion dollar renovation of the Lawyers Club, an on-campus residence for law school students.

The three projects cost a combined $102 million. The newly approved renovations bring the total to $109 million. The law school renovation is expected to be complete by summer 2013, the same time the Lawyers Club is set to reopen.

U-M has tapped architectural firm of SmithGroup to design the law school renovations, and TMP Architecture Inc. to design the Taubman renovations.

Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.

Comments

Jo

Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 3:25 a.m.

So...this must be why I have $80K in student loan debt...for projects like this. Nice.