New Year Improvement: Expect Winter Class in New Building
Chris Clayson
Issue date: 9/2/08 Section: News
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When classes came to a close last spring, the b-school was under heavy construction. As classes resume for the Fall, not much appears to be that different. There are still loud bangs, tall cranes, and hard hats as far as the eye can see. But according to Assistant Dean Graham Mercer, looks can be deceiving. I spent an afternoon with Mr. Mercer touring the new facilities and getting the latest updates on where progress stands. If all continues to go to plan, you'll see construction wrapping up in October and Winter A classes being held in the new building.
We began our tour by entering into the only piece of the new construction that will open before January, a bit of a utility space with a welcoming feature: additional lockers. The school hopes to have an additional 300+ lockers for use at the beginning of Fall Semester in the new building. There will also be new offices for the Monroe Street Journal and the Student Government Association, as well as two additional meeting rooms and a meditation room. But while these additions will surely be welcomed, they pale in comparison to what January holds in store.
Our tour continued into the heart of the new facility, the winter garden. Even with the sound of 400 construction workers reverberating throughout, it is difficult to not be overwhelmed by the vast amount of open space. Once completed, the winter garden will easily be one of the most impressive spaces the entire University of Michigan has to offer. The new facilities will be LEED certified and place a premium on natural light, something all too foreign to our current digs. The garden will serve as the epicenter for the school, with classrooms and meeting spaces intermixed with a new cafeteria boasting increased capacity and choice. It will be a vibrant atmosphere around lunch time, much like the current cafeteria, but with about 30 times the space.
Other improvements include larger offices for faculty members, even more lockers (the school hopes to have a locker for every MBA student), and an increased amount of breakout rooms. Perhaps most anticipated has been the new workout facility, which is equally impressive in size. Expect to see upwards of 60 machines available for blowing off steam between classes and interviews. Last, the top floor features an impressive view of the surrounding campus, including the law quad. There will be an impressive space for specialty functions, including catering for up to 200 guests. The top floor will also house the new faculty lounge.
The school has committed to minimizing the environmental impact of the new building, and it shows throughout. Rooftops have been greened, special glass has been installed to reduce heat absorption and glare, and reflectors will help redirect sunlight to reduce the need for artificial lighting. There has even been a focus on aesthetics of stairwells, with the hope that students will be more encouraged to avoid elevators. The new facility will not only be among the most striking on campus, but also the greenest.
All told, the new facilities will be extraordinary. Yes, that orange siding might be a bit of an acquired taste, but there is no dispute that this project is money well-spent. There is even more to look forward to beyond what I was able to cram into this article-improved classrooms, 500+ person auditorium, and the list goes on. So as the grind of the Fall Semester wears on, remember that January brings new beginnings. Gone will be the days of pileups between classes, dreary classrooms, and a complete lack of available meeting space. In its place, a state-of-the-art facility that will be as functional as it is stunning. It will sure be a welcome change.
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