'U' may raze Frieze Building

By Jeannie Baumann

Daily Staff Reporter

The Frieze Building, which houses University academic departments including Communication Studies, Film/Video Studies and the department of Theatre and Drama, may be replaced.

"The question that we're trying to think through is whether LSA would be better served by replacing the Frieze Building with an effective facility for faculty and students," University Chief Financial Officer Robert Kasdin said.

Kasdin said although he and LSA Dean Shirley Neuman have made no commitments to replacing the building and any possible renovations or replacements are still in the speculatory stage, the idea is being considered.

During yesterday's meeting of the University Board of Regents, Kasdin said the building currently has a 48 percent utilization rate.

"It's an inefficient building," he said.

The University purchased the building in 1956 for $1.4 million. It formerly served as the Ann Arbor High School.

Kasdin said the University originally had plans to renovate the Frieze Building in 1996 after the administration submitted its funding requests to the state. He said the state agreed to invest $28 million into the Frieze Building, and four other buildings: the LSA Building, the Perry Building, West Hall and the Mason/Haven complex.

But Kasdin said the state decided to postpone renovation to Frieze "for reasons of cash flow."

"The state agreed to the terms on all these buildings, minus the Frieze Building. But they still agreed to spend $28 million in Frieze to this day," he said.

Communication Studies Department Chairman Mike Traugott said it was "good news to hear that we're back on the list" for renovations.

"The building is quite inadequate because to host a department of communication studies and film and video studies that doesn't have cable access is inadequate for teaching and research purposes," he said.

Traugott said the Communications Studies department set aside funds to install an antenna to the building, but the local cable company said it could not provide the service.

"We need these kinds of resources for classroom use, research and other educational purposes," he said.

Film and Video Studies Prof. Frank Beaver, who has taught in the building since 1969, said renovations are an issue of safety as well as aesthetics.

"So little in 31 years has been done to make this a decent building for faculty to live," he said. "For one thing, they need to replace all the windows. A (Graduate Student Instructor) went to raise a window on the third floor and all the glass came down."

Beaver also said the interior of the building provides poor conditions for learning.

"It's either too hot, especially in the fall or the early summer, or it's too cold," he said. "It's just a funny, funny old building. When I started teaching here, my editing room for film were dressing rooms."

Kasdin said he and Neuman are not prepared to come forward with any proposal.

"None of this will be done until the existing, significant renovations are completed," Kasdin said.

Music junior Adam Levi said the building definitely needs to be replaced, and the University needs to account for all departments in the building, to ensure that none of them are displaced during any renovations or reconstruction.

"There are so many theatre-related parts of the building," Levi said. "There are two theatres, a costume shop, a prop shop and set shop. They need to understand how much of an undertaking it's gong to be for the theatre department. But it's old and need to be ripped down."

"So little in 31 years has been done to make this a decent building for faculty to live," he said. "For one thing, they need to replace all the windows. A (Graduate Student Instructor) went to raise a window on the third floor and all the glass came down."

Beaver also said the interior of the building provides poor conditions for learning.

"It's either too hot, especially in the fall or the early summer, or it's too cold," he said. "It's just a funny, funny old building. When I started teaching here, my editing room for film were dressing rooms."

Kasdin said he and Neuman are not prepared to come forward with any proposal.

"None of this will be done until the existing, significant renovations are completed," Kasdin said.

Music junior Adam Levi said the building definitely needs to be replaced, and the University needs to account for all departments in the building, to ensure that none of them are displaced during any renovations or reconstruction.

"There are so many theatre-related parts of the building," Levi said. "There are two theatres, a costume shop, a prop shop and set shop. They need to understand how much of an undertaking it's gong to be for the theatre department. But it's old and need to be ripped down."

DANNY KALICK/Daily

The University is considering replacement of the Frieze Building, which served as Ann Arbor High School until 1956.