Here is a breakdown of updates students can expect and what projects will continue throughout the semester:

MSU Campus:

Student Recreation and Wellness Center

Approved to proceed by the MSU Board of Trustees for $200 million in June 2023, the Student Recreation and Wellness Center main building reached substantial completion on Feb. 26, 2026. According to an IPF real estate and capital project status report, construction is now 89% complete. 

Punch-list and commissioning activities continue; the natatorium envelope is approximately 90% complete, with work on the pool shell and underground plumbing ongoing.

"I think the thing (students) are going to notice the most is that the fence in front of the student rec and wellness center is no more, so you can see that building really clearly now," Venton said. 

Farm Lane Road and utility reconstruction

Farm Lane Road and utility reconstruction are now fully designed, and work has begun on multiple parts of the project. It includes critical replacement components that minimize operational impacts and disruption at camp.

A secondary steam service pipeline will be installed from Wilson Road to north campus. Steam, water, storm sewer and sanitary sewer services for the new Plant and Environmental Sciences building will be provided, and construction will replace the aged cast iron water main, deteriorating sanitary and storm sewer mains, and complete a communication duct from Shaw Lane to Wilson Road.

Construction is on track and on budget and should be completed by the end of August 2026.

Wilson Hall

Work has begun on the Wilson Hall renovations that the Board of Trustees approved for $34.8 million Feb. 2026. Approximately 22,000 sq. ft. of former kitchen and dining space will be converted into teaching, learning and office areas, along with the installation of upgraded HVAC, restrooms, elevator access and new fire suppression systems and alarms for the entire building, also known as life safety improvements.

IPF says construction on the project is underway on schedule and on budget, with completion dates for technology and engineering expected on June 1, 2027, and life-safety improvements on August 1, 2027.

February 13 Memorial

For an estimated $3.9 million, the Board of Trustees approved a February 13 memorial in August 2025. There was a public request for proposals for memorial designs sent out July 2024, and finalists were selected by the memorial committee and the Public Art on Campus committee in Sep. 2024. The final memorial design was selected in June 2025. 

The project will replace an existing fountain at Old Horticulture Gardens with a memorial fountain, benches and surrounding plantings. Construction has begun on schedule as of June 2026, and work will continue as students return to campus, with an expected completion date of fall 2026.

City of East Lansing:

Harrison Road Rehabilitation Project

According to the City of East Lansing website, the Harrison Road project is aimed at resurfacing Harrison Road from Grand River Avenue to Saginaw Street. The East Lansing City Council selected Spicer Group for the project, and it was divided into three phases.

The project included Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) milling and resurfacing of about 2,430 ft of Harrison Road. Other construction included in the project was sidewalk ramp upgrades, intermittent curb and gutter replacement, intermittent drainage replacement, and the maintenance of traffic and permanent pavement markings. 

For the duration of the project, the road was closed between Grand River Avenue and Saginaw Highway, but has reopened as of Aug. 14. 

River and Waters Edge, Milford-Gunson Sewer Improvements

The city of East Lansing was awarded a Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan of $44.6 million for a Combined Sewer Overflow separation project.

At the beginning of the summer, the Grand River Avenue portion of the project began and runs concurrently with the Cedar Village portion. This phase of the project was required to be completed while MSU was on summer break; the full closure allows city contractors to replace old water main ahead of the major sewer work. 

The project will separate the currently combined sewers in the River/Waters Edge, Wilmarth-Woodmere and Milford-Gunsons sewer districts that currently convey both stormwater and sanitary wastewater.

When separated, stormwater is discharged directly to the river, while wastewater is transported to the City's Water Resource Recovery Facility for treatment before being discharged.

Construction required a full closure of Grand River Avenue in both directions between Gunson Street and Woodmere Avenue. As of Aug. 3, the roadway reopened to one lane of traffic in both directions and will fully reopen on Aug. 21. 

Carrie Sampson, spokesperson for the City of East Lansing, said all the major road construction projects in the City of East Lansing will be completed by the time classes start at MSU.

"We work with MSU and try and coordinate so that we're not disrupting move-in traffic for campus." Sampson said, "We don't expect that there will be any traffic clogs."

Comprehensive Downtown Parking Facility Repairs Project

Students can expect future construction in parking structures downtown as the project is expected to span from now to summer 2027.

Work will begin on Aug 17 on the top level of the Division Street Garage, Lot 10. Construction will focus on sealant replacement and concrete repairs.  

Sampson said the city will try to minimize disruptions to people, but there could be a variety of closures, and certain levels may not be accessible at different times. For further information about when closures will occur, Sampson suggests checking the City of East Lansing construction page.

The Parking Division of the Planning, Building & Housing Department will also be posting signs at garage entrances to notify patrons of upcoming work.