U-M Athletics Department to Undergo Major Overhaul

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan (U-M) Board of Regents granted the athletic department’s wish on Sept. 18, approving $18.7 million in renovations to the Intramural Sports Building and the construction of a $168 million South Campus athletics facility, the university’s largest sports-focused construction project in decades.
The $168 million project consists of constructing a new 310,000-square-foot, multipurpose facility for the university’s Division I Olympic sports, including track, tennis, cross country, rowing, wrestling, soccer and lacrosse, as well as recreational sports.
The complex will be built on the 17-acre South Street property that the university purchased for $12.8 million earlier this year, reported MLive. It will feature indoor and outdoor track competition venues, which will seat 2,000 and 1,000 spectators, respectively. A lacrosse stadium will also be built on the site to accommodate 3,000 spectators. The venues will allow the university to host local, regional and national competitions, reported The Michigan Daily.
The regents also approved an $18.7 million renovation of the university’ Intramural Sports Building, which was originally constructed in 1928 and was the first university recreational sports facility in the U.S. The project will reorganize the building’s existing 106,000 square feet of space to create larger areas for cardio and weight training as well as new group exercise rooms; refreshed racquetball courts, locker rooms and staff offices; and more collaborative spaces.
The building’s infrastructure will also be upgraded. Site work includes improvements to mechanical, electrical, plumbing and wired and wireless networking; exterior window replacement; stone and masonry repairs; lighting improvements; and gymnasium floor replacement.
The South Campus athletics facility will be funded by a $100 million donation from U-M alum Stephen M. Ross in addition to the athletic department’s resources and gifts. The facility will be named the Stephen M. Ross Athletic South Competition and Performance Project in honor of Ross’ donation. The Intramural Sports Building renovations will be funded by university investment proceeds and the Student Life Student Fee for Facility Renewal, a $65-per-term, per-student fee.
No construction schedule for either project has been submitted yet.