The Southfield-based contractor will construct the 6,000-seat arena at the center of the flashy new development, according to a university spokesperson. The proposal says that portion of the project will be financed through a mix of new debt obligations and funds pulled from the university’s general fund.

The arena will be "Olympic style," and is set to host volleyball, gymnastics and wrestling events, as well as concerts and other campus activities. 

Pierce has been on Barton Malow’s board since 2012, according to media reports, her LinkedIn profile and various professional bios. She did not respond to The State News’ requests for comment.

The plan also orders that the stadium be surrounded by restaurants, housing, retail shops, office space and a hotel. Those developments will be funded through a private-public partnership between MSU and other developers, according to the proposal.

Before the board voted to approve the project earlier this month, Pierce said, "I’m just saying, before we call a vote, that I’m going to recuse myself from the vote."

The board secretary then conducted a roll-call vote. Pierce was not included. She did not say anything more about her recusal during the proceedings or during her trustee comments at the end of the meeting.

The proposal passed six to one, a rare departure from the board’s ordinarily unanimous approvals of most items.

Trustee Mike Balow voted against the project, objecting to the budget’s reliance on the university’s general fund. He suggested the development should only be pursued if it can be covered by athletics revenue or donor support.

Trustee Rema Vassar voiced similar concerns, saying she hoped donor funding could be identified to supplement the budget. She ultimately did vote to approve the project.

Some members of the public at the board meeting also objected to the project. One questioned the decision to spend so much on an arena for non-revenue sports that would "never generate the revenue to pay for the facility." A former MSU sustainability administrator questioned the environmental impacts of the development, saying "the energy that it takes to build that facility is going to have incredible impacts on people all over the world."

In addition to that broader consequence, the development will require the removal of a large patch of trees in south campus. (The looming cut has inspired a public art exhibit planned by a PhD student studying ecological grief.)

In an interview with The State News on Friday, president Kevin Guskiewicz voiced support for the project, describing it as "a game-changer for our campus, mid-Michigan, and the Greater Lansing area."

Guskiewicz pushed back on the financial concerns.

"We have a plan for how we’re gonna fund this, through a public-private partnership," he said. "So, I’m excited about moving forward."

When he was asked about Pierce’s abstention from the vote, a spokesperson interrupted, saying "that’s not for us to comment on."

Pierce — an independent appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2022 — did not respond to calls and text messages from The State News seeking comment. The State News also attempted to reach her through a spokesperson, but did not hear back at time of publication.

Administration reporter Owen McCarthy contributed reporting.