Here’s the official Athletic Department Release:
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan athletic department will hold a special groundbreaking ceremony on Monday (May 10) at 1 p.m., as construction is scheduled to begin on the new Basketball Player Development Center adjacent to Crisler Arena. The groundbreaking is free and open to the public.
U-M Director of Athletics Dave Brandon, U-M men’s and women’s head coach John Beilein and Kevin Borseth, as well as other university athletics staff, architects and other dignitaries will be on hand for the ceremonial program.
The facility, to be built adjacent to Crisler Arena on its east side, will be approximately 57,000 gross square feet. It will house two basketball practice courts, team locker rooms for players and coaches, and an athletic medicine area equipped with hydrotherapy.
The second floor will accommodate the men’s and women’s coaching staffs and administrative support, as well as feature film-viewing rooms and strength and conditioning space. The proposed design calls for a new entrance to Crisler Arena for players and coaches at the playing floor level and a new, dramatic Hall of Fame in the entry lobby. The lobby would provide a distinct identity for the basketball programs while harmonizing with the existing basketball arena and Michigan Stadium.
Construction will be phased over a two-year period and completed in fall 2011. Approximately 150 parking spaces will be lost during construction. A portion of spaces — approximately 55 — will be available upon completion of the project.
The estimated cost of the project is $23.2 million. Funding will be provided through private donations and Athletic Department resources.
By an 8-0 vote, the University Board of Regents unanimously approved the Basketball Player Development Center on Jan. 22, 2009. The schematic designs, developed by Jickling Lyman Powell Associates, assisted by Sink Combs Dethlefs, were then approved Sept. 17, 2009.
In addition to the Basketball Player Development Center approvals, there was an additional $20 million renovation of Crisler Arena approved at the Regents meeting on Jan. 21, 2010.
This first of two phases addresses the highest priority infrastructure needs such as repair of the roof, electrical, plumbing and air handling systems. Lower bowl seats also would be replaced, with the expansion of ADA seating, addition of hand rails and other code-related issues.
