The center will act as a resource to address the rising demand for information technology across campus. It is part of the IT Transformation Initiative focused on “improving and strengthening core services, aligning resources, and innovative approaches to providing information technology to the University community,” according to the memorandum presented to the Board of Trustees. 

The university has been studying the need for such a facility since 2010.

The construction of the project will be managed by an out-of-state construction manager, Holder Construction, which raised concerns among the trustees.

“There was a thorough selection process,” Trustee Dianne Byrum said. “This is, in my time, unprecedented that we’re awarding a Michigan project to a non-Michigan company.”

However, to relieve qualms, it was affirmed that a majority of the budget will be spent in Michigan.

“One hundred percent of sub-contractors for the project will be selected from Michigan-based firms,” McCurdy said. “They represent a substantial amount of the product budget.”

The building will allow for 2.5 megawatts of computing, and the center’s creation will also act as a consolidation of two enterprise data centers located in the flood plain. There are currently more than 70 data centers around campus, and one will be closed. Another will be converted to a disaster recovery site.

The budget of $46 million is broken up into: $36.5 million for construction, $5.5 million for utility extension and $4 million on project contingency.

Construction will take place on Crescent Road and is scheduled to begin September 2016, with substantial completion expected in February 2018 and final completion March 2019.