UC renovation may include post office

A coffee shop and post office are some of the changes discussed for the renovation of the Bovee University Center.

The Board of Trustees unveiled the plan last year signing on the SHW Group with architectural consultants.

“We will be sharing the schematic design ideas in late September,” said Associate Vice President of Facilities Management Steve Lawrence in an e-mail to Central Michigan Life. “The biggest changes shown in the schematic plans include a coffee shop, more meeting space on the lower and first levels, post office and more casual lounge space for students on the lower and first levels.”

In April 2007 the Board of Trustees approved renovations to the building under a $5 million budget. In April 2008, Central Michigan Life reported the projected costs fluctuated to a maximum of $10.9 million. However, the Trustees stuck by their initial budget of $5 million after the estimate was released.

“The project is to be funded from multiple sources, reserves for future construction, gifts and grants, campus improvement fee and university reserves,” Lawrence said.

The architectural firm SHW Group collected input from students and faculty through surveys and discussions to shape its designs for the building. Surveys revealed that the UC was one of the less popular buildings on campus.

“We don’t have a place where we can hang out,” said Hudsonville junior Austin Rowlader. “I think it’s a good idea to have a place where students can congregate.”

With the intention of making the UC more appealing to students, structural changes include more open space for meeting and seating, a coffee shop and a post office.

“A post office is an excellent idea,” Rowlader said. “The closest post office is at the (Student Book Exchange).”

The renovations are part of a larger chain of projects starting with the completion of the Education and Human Services Building. Once completed, the building will house education services that are currently in Ronan Hall, Lawrence said.

Less-used services from the UC will move to the renovated Ronan Hall, creating room for the scheduled renovations.

“The project is still in the early stages of design, and plans for relocation have not yet been finalized,” said Director of Plant Engineering and Planning Linda Slater.

The UC renovations are scheduled to begin in January 2010 and end in December 2010, with most of the work being done during the summer.

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