The main article touches on developments with the FRIB, but also renovations to the Union, Spartan Stadium, and the former State Police HQ. It contains photos of the proposed changes to the Union, noting that a new Biggby and Post Office will be included. The budget of the project is $2.4 million, and has a expected completion date of August.
Spartan Stadium is having new scoreboards installed on both ends of the Stadium, one huge one on the North end and two smaller on the South end, with a partial LED video ring on the South end as well. The Stadium upgrades will cost about $8 million, and should be done before the beginning of the 2012 season.
The University is also planning on demolishing the old State Police Headquarters for an estimated $3.1 million, with $1.25 million being contributed by the State. Just speculation, but I would imagine asbestos issues have played a part in the large cost of the demolition and could complicate the process.
The Freep is reporting that Munn Arena appears in line for a renovation. Athletic Director Mark Hollis states that a reno'ed Munn would cost about $20 million, while an entirely new arena could cost upwards of $70 million. Hockey Coach Tom Anastos thinks the reno proposal "is substantial, and that arena will have a whole different look and feel to it." The Athletic Department would need to grab some substantial donor cash for the project as a whole though, and Hollis stated that they're "still waiting to hear back from a few potential donors.”
The article also mentions that Munn will for sure be receiving a new ice-cooling system, which will be completed prior to next season. That project will cost about $3 million, which will be taken from department operational funds.
An unexpected discovery apparently occurred during the opening stages of West Circle steam loop construction going on this summer. An undocumented building was uncovered next to the Morrill Hall foundation.
Lynne Goldstein, an Anthropology Professor and director of MSU Campus Archaeology Program, has opined that it was likely an old boiler building used to help power the hall in the early 1900's. The discovery is not expected to delay the West Circle steam loop project.
The Broad Art Museum now has a date for its debut. The University is planning an outdoor public ceremony for November 9, 2012, with an indoor open house on November 10.
Additionally, MSU has named the inaugural exhibitions for the gallery:
“Global Groove 1973/2012” will use Nam June Paik’s seminal 1973 video “Global Groove” as a jumping-off point to explore current trends in international video art.
“In Search of Time” will investigate artists’ expressions of time and memory by creating dialogues among works by artists including Josef Albers, Romare Bearden, Damien Hirst, Toba Khedoori, Andy Warhol, Eadweard Muybridge and Sam Jury, among others.
Glad to see it appears as though they're now getting past the funding issues and are able to focus on getting some first-class exhibits!
Morril Hall is now under demolition. The plans call for a decorative sidewalk and landscaping design that will match the footprint of the historical building.
I'm pretty disappointed at MSU's continued push south as they work on eliminating parking lots between Wilson Rd and the Red Cedar river. This building could have gone on one of those surface lots, and it would have been nice infill. Instead, the university has been pushing more and more buildings to Service Road, which is just going to spread out infrastructure costs in the long run.
I don't totally disagree with the location of the building, it may seem like sprawl now, but in the long term it will make sense. (After looking at the 2020 plan update there is a lot to take in including a number of new buildings in the south academic district.)
If you haven't checked out the updated master plan it's worth a look: 2020 Plan 2011 update. Some of the things planned over the next five years include a renovation and expansion of the School of Music, a 225k sq ft building for Interdisciplinary Science &
Technology, a 113k sq ft data center, a new 160k sq ft health care facility and the renovation of the Shaw Lane Power plant for "academic
services support."
It's great to see that almost all of MSU's sports facilities are going to be up to date. There's been a new facilities for soccer, baseball and softball; updated facilities for football, hockey and now basketball, I think that's all of them any way. Now I'd just like to see a fully renovated Jenison Field House. Demonstration Hall would be a nice building to see get renovated also, does anyone know if it even gets used much anymore?
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On a side note, FRIB will be nowhere near as large or powerful as the LHC. FRIB will be used for a totally different purpose.
Site prep and excavations have been approved by the Board for the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) project. The University has approved $20 million for this phase of the project, and construction is slated to begin in May. This article makes mention that the Federal funding for the project has come into question recently, and simply points to that older article for further details.
The main article touches on developments with the FRIB, but also renovations to the Union, Spartan Stadium, and the former State Police HQ. It contains photos of the proposed changes to the Union, noting that a new Biggby and Post Office will be included. The budget of the project is $2.4 million, and has a expected completion date of August.
Spartan Stadium is having new scoreboards installed on both ends of the Stadium, one huge one on the North end and two smaller on the South end, with a partial LED video ring on the South end as well. The Stadium upgrades will cost about $8 million, and should be done before the beginning of the 2012 season.
The University is also planning on demolishing the old State Police Headquarters for an estimated $3.1 million, with $1.25 million being contributed by the State. Just speculation, but I would imagine asbestos issues have played a part in the large cost of the demolition and could complicate the process.
The article also mentions that Munn will for sure be receiving a new ice-cooling system, which will be completed prior to next season. That project will cost about $3 million, which will be taken from department operational funds.
Lynne Goldstein, an Anthropology Professor and director of MSU Campus Archaeology Program, has opined that it was likely an old boiler building used to help power the hall in the early 1900's. The discovery is not expected to delay the West Circle steam loop project.
Additionally, MSU has named the inaugural exhibitions for the gallery:
“Global Groove 1973/2012” will use Nam June Paik’s seminal 1973 video “Global Groove” as a jumping-off point to explore current trends in international video art.
“In Search of Time” will investigate artists’ expressions of time and memory by creating dialogues among works by artists including Josef Albers, Romare Bearden, Damien Hirst, Toba Khedoori, Andy Warhol, Eadweard Muybridge and Sam Jury, among others.
Glad to see it appears as though they're now getting past the funding issues and are able to focus on getting some first-class exhibits!
MSU Board Approves Bio Engineering Project
Anyone see this about MSU's future in Grand Rapids? I'm still not happy about MSU being in Grand Rapids, it doesn't make sense.
MSU begins plan for research facility in Grand Rapids
If you haven't checked out the updated master plan it's worth a look: 2020 Plan 2011 update. Some of the things planned over the next five years include a renovation and expansion of the School of Music, a 225k sq ft building for Interdisciplinary Science &
Technology, a 113k sq ft data center, a new 160k sq ft health care facility and the renovation of the Shaw Lane Power plant for "academic
services support."
Also, an LSJ article on the upgrades at MSU: Munn Ice Arena on track for major upgrades as it turns 40 in fall
It's great to see that almost all of MSU's sports facilities are going to be up to date. There's been a new facilities for soccer, baseball and softball; updated facilities for football, hockey and now basketball, I think that's all of them any way. Now I'd just like to see a fully renovated Jenison Field House. Demonstration Hall would be a nice building to see get renovated also, does anyone know if it even gets used much anymore?