Life Sciences, construction on agenda for 'U' regents

By Jen Fish

Daily Staff Reporter

It's back to business for the University Board of Regents, as the eight-member board plans to hold its first meeting of the academic year tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. in the Fleming Administration Building.

The regents are scheduled to discuss a number of construction and renovation projects, including the opening of the Life Sciences Institute to competitive construction bids.

The regents approved the creation of the Life Sciences Institute in May 1999. Construction on the research and education complex started earlier this summer at a site off of Washtenaw Avenue, across from Palmer Field.

Construction costs are estimated to be at least $62 million, with another $15 million estimated to be spent on equipment and other costs. More than $200 million has been committed to the Life Sciences Initiatives, a plan to expand the University's research and teaching capabilities in the area.

The regents are also scheduled to hear a proposal that would approve the construction of a new Science Instruction Center Building, as part of the Life Science complex. The project, which is estimated to cost about $36 million to build, is intended to provide teaching and research space for a number of science programs.

Rounding out the number of new structures in this area will be the addition of the Palmer Drive Commons Building. The $32 million project is planned to house a number of facilities, including offices for the Central Power Plant and a satellite office for the Department of Public Safety.

Other renovation projects that are up for approval are the Kinesiology Laboratory in the Central Campus Recreation Building, C.C. Little and Pharmacy building projects and the partial demolition of the North University Building.

These renovation projects, if approved, will add to a number of other projects around campus. The history and political science departments, located in Haven Hall, have been relocated this term to make way for construction crews as the building is scheduled to be under construction until 2002.

The Regents are facing an especially long agenda because they did not meet in August, said Regent Olivia Maynard (D-Goodrich).

"It's a long agenda ... but I don't think it will be a controversial meeting," she said.