What campus construction projects does UMich have planned for this fall?

As the 2024-25 school year begins at the University of Michigan, the University continues to invest in infrastructure, new buildings and remodeling. These improvements, ranging from new residential halls to wellness facilities, aim to enhance student life across campus. The Michigan Daily took a look at the new projects underway on campus.

University of Michigan Health D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion

The University of Michigan Health D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion, located on the Medical Campus, is expected to be completed in spring of 2025. The 690,000-gross-square-foot clinical inpatient tower project will have an inpatient-care program with 264 single-occupancy patient rooms and 23 surgical/interventional radiology suites. With the relocation of clinical services from the University Hospital, space will be available for the growth of patient programs and future remodeling and design for the remaining facilities in the University Hospital.

E. Royster Harper Hall

The University’s newest undergraduate residence hall, E. Royster Harper Residence Hall, will be located on Central Campus and is expected to be completed in summer 2026. With a budget of $631 million, the residence hall will feature 2,300 beds and a dining facility. The project is located on the former location of Elbel Field, the Michigan Marching Band’s practice field. Elbel Field has been relocated one block away from its original location.  

Public Policy junior Megan Pfohl said that she feels it is important to expand housing on campus. 

“I lived in South Quad my first year, and I think I really benefited from being on Central Campus as it was a lot closer to my classes,” Pfohl said. “I made a lot of my friends through the dorm, so I generally had a pretty positive experience. I think it’s important to expand housing as a way to ease housing concerns for monetary reasons.”

Leinweber Computer Science and Information Building

Students and faculty in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering as well as the School of Information can expect a space expansion of around 163,000 gross square feet by approximately summer 2025. This expansion will also allow the School of Information to relocate to North Campus. The building will feature instructional space, office and student services space and dry research labs. The University is also constructing a $20 million geothermal plant next to the Leinweber Computer Science and Information Building to supply it with cooling and heating.  

In an interview with The Daily, LSA junior Neha Sancheti, who is majoring in computer science, said she is excited about the prospect of a more centralized computer science space on North Campus.

“I think it’s actually really exciting because computer science is one of the biggest majors at U-M and so many people are taking the classes,” Sancheti said. “Expanding space for these students allows everything to become centralized as well as having space where we can spend our day on North (Campus) without having to commute back and forth from Central Campus really helps.”

College of Pharmacy Building

The new College of Pharmacy Building, a 142,000-gross-square-foot building on the Medical Campus, is expected to be completed by fall 2025. With a budget of $141 million, the building will provide active learning-style classrooms, laboratories, support spaces, administrative offices and student-focused areas.

College of Pharmacy senior Maggie Hsu shared her perspective about what the new building would bring to pharmacy students. 

“The current College of Pharmacy is kind of a harder building to navigate with the classrooms being mainly seminar rooms,” Hsu said. “From what I know, the new building has a lot of more teaching facilities and newer research buildings, and the design of the current building has low ceilings with sewage and plumbing issues.” 

Hadley Family Recreation & Well-Being Center

Not only can students expect a new undergraduate residence hall and a new, improved health care pavilion, but by spring 2025, the Hadley Family Recreation & Well-Being Center will also be completed. This 200,000-gross-square-feet facility will feature space for modern gymnastics, weight and cardiovascular training spaces, aquatics, climbing areas, racquetball and squash courts, a track for running and walking, group exercise rooms, locker rooms and support and administrative spaces. The center will be housed in the former location of the Central Campus Recreation Building.

Medical School’s Department of Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics

The Medical School’s Department of Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics and several other Medical School units will undergo renovations, with an estimated completion in fall 2025. The renovations will cover approximately 60,000 gross square feet in the B and D wings on levels 3, 4 and 5. 

University Hospital South

Starting this fall, renovations will begin at U-M Health University Hospital South, with construction estimated to be complete by spring 2025. These renovations will transform previously used clinical spaces into an observation patient unit with 26 beds, compensating for their loss of capacity to Trinity Health Ann Arbor.

On Central Campus, the Edward and Rosalie Ginsberg Building will replace the Madelon Pound House. The new building consists of 11,000 square feet, including collaborative meeting spaces, a resource library, student organization space and support and administrative spaces.

Daily News Reporter Kate Levy can be reached at kjlevy@umich.edu.

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