Sections
Renovations to Union, League designed to attract students
By Marisa Ma
Daily Staff Reporter
Amidst the dust and noise of construction all around campus, visitors to the Michigan League hotel can now see a finished product.
The hotel, renamed the Inn at the Michigan League, caters to campus visitors, including University alums and parents. It will be unveiled today with an open house.
All three University Unions -- Michigan League, Michigan Union and Pierpont Commons -- are currently undergoing or are planned for major renovations to update mechanical and electrical systems, modernize their appearances, and improve the use of space for student activity.
"The goal of the renovations is to improve the quality of the services and facilities of those buildings," said Sarah Tigay, spokesperson for the University Unions renovation project.
The Inn at the Michigan League will boast a new service desk, furniture and carpets, as well as a new corridor.
All areas of the building, including restrooms, conference rooms and banquet rooms, will be given a facelift by next year. The passenger elevator will also acquire a new look and new systems to abide by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
"There was a general tackiness in the building," said Bob Yecke, the building director of the Michigan League.
Yecke said another goal of the renovation project is "to bring student life back to the League," by making over the League Underground to resemble the MUG at the Union.
"We think what we're trying to do downstairs will meet some need for students on campus," Yecke said.
"We're going to have some food vendors and some seating for students to eat, meet and study," he said. "We will also have a stage for student programming."
The League Underground is scheduled to reopen this fall.
Student accessibility is also a factor in the renovation plan for the fourth floor of the Union. Changes were planned to create more efficient space for student use.
Construction on the fourth floor began in January and will "try to make a better student focus for the space," which houses student group offices, said Audrey Schwimmer, building director for the Union.
"(The builders) are using the space more economically (while maintaining) the number of offices of student organizations," she said. Common space will be increased and new spaces like a resource center and conference room will be added.
Motivated by student input, the changes were planned so "there can be interaction amongst the (student) groups," Schwimmer said.
In addition, "a lot of the spaces were shabby-looking. They were definitely showing their age," she said, noting that many fourth-floor offices used to be converted hotel rooms.
The Union was built in 1916, the third-oldest college union in the country. The construction at the Union is scheduled to be completed in two years.
Another major renovation project at the Union is the University Club, which is in the process of revamping its look with new china, chairs, table tops and menu. The polished image is crowned by a mural on the walls, which is being painted by students from the School of Art.
The University Club, located on the second floor of the Union, is a full-service restaurant.
"The major thrust of the renovations at the Union is to attract the student population during lunch and throughout the day with new menus and a new look," Schwimmer said.
In addition to cosmetic changes, structural changes are being made including asbestos removal and upgrades on plumbing, cooling and heating systems.
"The five (building) codes and (the Americans with Disabilities Act) compliances are newer ... we have to meet the codes," Tigay said.
Schwimmer said structural changes must obey ADA regulations and allow for access to disabled people.
"Another significant change is ADA accessible, like widths of corridors and down ramps," Schwimmer said.
The Pierpont Commons will likewise experience upgrades of rooms and mechanical systems to improve appearance and comply with building codes and ADA regulations.