Thursday, March 28, 2024

Five IM Facilities projects introduced to ASMSU

October 4, 2017
Pictured is the pool on Aug. 30, 2017, at IM Sports West. The HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system at the pool was completely replaced after 60 years.
Pictured is the pool on Aug. 30, 2017, at IM Sports West. The HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system at the pool was completely replaced after 60 years. —

To improve MSU health and fitness spaces, a committee of staff, students and faculty from across the university established a framework with architectural firm Moody Nolan to identify problem areas and potential solutions. The framework is a long-term plan to update MSU fitness spaces, but the first few projects to come out of the framework were recently released.

The first five projects were introduced to the members of the Associated Students of Michigan State University, or ASMSU, at the organization's general assembly meeting on Sept. 21.

They were introduced by Vice President for Student Affairs and Services Denise Maybank, Deputy Athletics Director Greg Ianni and Director of Facilities Planning and Space Management Barbara Kranz.

The projects include updates to Demonstration Hall, outdoor spaces and all three IM-Sports facilities. Funding for the projects will come from a $35 million allocation in support of MSU's Healthy Campus Initiative. Before going to the Board of Trustees for authorization to proceed, the committee is hoping to gain feedback from student groups.

The development of the framework follows the long overdue need for updates to MSU's fitness facilities. Cosmetic changes and pool area updates to IM-Sports West were made this past summer.


Demonstration Hall – Multi-use court renovations

The first project to come out of the framework is renovating the multi-use courts in Demonstration Hall. Kranz said the intent would be to replace the flooring, lighting and really clean up the area. She said the area is used by many different club sports and student groups.

Request for authorization from MSU's Board of Trustees to proceed with this project is expected for the February meeting.

Duration for planning, design and construction is expected to take eight to 10 months.

IM Sports-East – Gym and track renovations

Renovating the gym and track in IM Sports-East is another expected project. This project would involve removing walls and opening up spaces.

Currently, the track area that runs above the gyms is separated.

"The intent there would be to open that up so you'd actually be able to have a visual connection with the gyms below," Kranz said.

The track's surface will also be replaced, and Kranz also said there have been conversations about adding murals in the process of cleaning up that area.

As for the gyms, "There's a concrete wall right now that separates the gyms, so the intent would be to take the wall down, do netting," Kranz said.

Request for authorization from MSU's Board of Trustees to proceed with this project is expected for the February meeting.

Duration for planning, design and construction is expected to take eight to 10 months.

IM Sports-West – Turf arena renovations

Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.

IM Sports-West is expected to see renovations to the indoor turf arena.

"The turf would be replaced — It's worn and very tired," Kranz said.

The turf arena would see new painting and lighting as well.

Request for authorization from MSU's Board of Trustees to proceed with this project is expected for the February meeting.

Duration for planning, design and construction is expected to take eight to 10 months.

Service Road fields – Synthetic turf

In addition to indoor spaces, one of MSU's outdoor spaces will receive a makeover. The fields off of Service Road will be updated.

"We looked at a number of different fields and areas on campus, and in terms of a first place start would be on Service Road where we already have some fields," Kranz said.

The fields would be covered with synthetic turf, create some nice rectangles and add restrooms, lighting and fencing around the fields.

Request for authorization from MSU's Board of Trustees to proceed with this project is expected for the February meeting.

Duration for planning, design and construction is expected to take eight to 10 months.

IM Sports-Circle – Transforming former pool space

The biggest project of the bunch will be completely transforming one of the biggest spaces in IM Sports-Circle. The old pool in IM Sports-Circle hasn't been used in many years, but the hope is to turn the space into a multi-use facility.

"The pictures don't do this space justice," Ianni said. "I've tried to acquire this space for athletics use for quite some time because when you walk into the room, it is a spectacular space. So we envision it being a multi-purpose, multi-use room."

The space's most eye-catching asset is its original windows. Kranz said she believes it's one of the most beautiful spaces on campus. 

"If you look up, there are these windows at the top," Ianni said. "That's the original pool on campus right there. And that's the space. And the light and the energy in that room — it's a special space. So I know it looks like a dog now but it's going to look like a thoroughbred one of these days."

Unlike the others, request for authorization from MSU's Board of Trustees to proceed with this project is expected for September 2018.

Duration for planning, design and construction is expected to take much longer than the others — 18 to 21 months.

"We have some work to do in terms of planning that forward and how we would envision it being used," Kranz said. "But we feel pretty good asking for this."

Discussion

Share and discuss “Five IM Facilities projects introduced to ASMSU” on social media.