Design work will continue being carried out for the Events Center, renovations to the Bovee University Center and a 50,000-square-foot addition to the Health Professions building. The renovating of Rose Arena will begin later in the summer, said Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of Facilities Management.

A new glass-walled entrance, practice facility and bowl-shaped seating in Rose Arena are included for the proposed Events Center.

"Right now, there isn't really a main entrance to the arena," Lawrence said. "The new one will be much more noticeable."

The new Events Center has a $21.5 million budget. The UC renovations has an estimated budget of $5 million, and the Health Professions building expansion is estimated to cost $15 million.

A $3.6 million set of renovations to Ronan Hall, resurfacing of the Moore Hall's Bush Theatre stage and completion of landscaping around the new Education and Human Services Building are also planned for this summer. The four Washington Apartments on the west side of campus will be demolished for the construction of a new parking lot as well.

CMU has also contracted with a nationally-known expert to help make campus more pedestrian-friendly.

Dan Burden is the director of Walkable Communities and a nationally recognized authority with Glatting Jackson Kercher Anglin Inc., a community and environmental planning firm.

"Dan and his colleagues have extensive experience and expertise in establishing walkable communities," said Linda Slater, director of plant engineering and planning.

Burden and one of his colleagues spent a day in Mount Pleasant in January, and Facilities Management personnel gave them a tour of campus and discussed possible improvements to make it more suitable for pedestrians.

They discussed the flow of traffic on city streets and how to redistribute it more efficiently. Other issues of concern included the numerous yield signs placed around campus.

"The motorists might see those signs but have no inclination to yield," Burden said. "Oftentimes, they speed right past them."

Glatting Jackson Kercher Anglin, Inc. has been in existence for several decades, with the intent of creating and maintaining sustainable communities.

"We help towns become more of a place for people," Burden said.

The University's Master Plan includes the addition of bike lanes to West Campus Drive after it is repaved this summer.

The plan also supports improvements to pedestrian crossings at Ottawa and Ojibway courts off Washington Street and the installation of additional bike racks and benches around campus, Slater said.

Facilities Management has been in close contact with the city of Mount Pleasant and the Michigan Department of Transportation regarding non-motorized transportation.

Burden said his primary goal is to promote more affordable, healthy transportation and minimize travel by automobiles.

"If you build massive amounts of parking, people are more likely to drive," he said. "When people choose to walk, they can develop an improved lifestyle."

university@cm-life.com