'U' lags on new dorm planning
Aymar Jean
Michigan Daily, December 8, 2004

The University is at least one month behind in planning for the new residence hall set to replace the Frieze Building.

Originally, administrators had expected to recommend an architectural design firm for the proposed hall to the University Board of Regents at this month’s regents’ meeting on Dec. 16. But the job has proven more challenging than anticipated, and administrators said the University is still looking for an architect who can design the look of the building while accommodating the hall’s many aspects.

The new hall, part of a broad initiative to revitalize residential life, will combine housing suites totalling 500 students’ beds with academic offices so that upperclassmen can interact with professors from various departments.

An architect has not been selected because the new building has many uses, said Facilities and Operations spokeswoman Diane Brown. The building will incorporate both “residential and academic spaces” — offices and living suites. The architect will also have to preserve the façade of the Carnegie Library attached to the Frieze Building.

Constructing a new, modern residence hall is essential to recruiting the best students and staying competitive in the academic world, administrators have said. The University has not built a new hall in over 30 years, and many students and administrators believe some of the current facilities are either out of date or in need of renovation. While construction of new dorms has been attempted in past decades, it has always faced delays.

When Henry proposed extensive changes to University Housing in September, regents expressed concern that plans would fizzle as they have in the past.

“We are putting significant pressure on the president to move this,” University Regent Andrea Fischer Newman (R-Ann Arbor) said in September. “You need to understand, and people here need to understand, the frustration factor on the board level.”

University administrators said they are taking their time in the architect selection process because the job is quite complicated. Yesterday, Housing Director Carole Henry and others in the Division of Student Affairs were reviewing proposals from different firms.

“It’s taking longer than what was stated in that memo,” Brown said, referring to a statement by the administration setting the announcement date for December. The memo was written to Vice President for Student Affairs E. Royster Harper and University Provost Paul Courant.

Both Brown and Henry said the delay, which may only amount to one month, should not have an impact on the overall planning process, which is expected to take at least a year. The University plans to break ground on the new residence hall in 2006, and construction should be completed in 2008.

“It takes a little bit of time with all of these units weighing in,” Brown said, pointing out that various parts of the administration, from the University’s architect to administrators, are involved in the selection process.

Echoing this statement, Henry said administrators are not acting hastily, despite the pleas by some regents to move the process along quickly.

“You don’t want that to be too rushed,” Henry said, adding that January is “just a few weeks’ difference,” and that the University wants to find a firm by the next regents meeting.

“Some of this takes some time. There’s no reason to go to the board with this precipitously,” she added.