Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation last week that provides more than $13 million in funding for a planned addition to C.B. Hedgcock which will house the College of Business.
Construction is set to begin in May, with completion slated for August of 2028. Through a combination of fundraising efforts and university support, NMU has allocated roughly $9.6 million for the project. Estimates put the total cost at $22.98 million.
The extension will add 24,000 square feet of new space onto Hedgock and will feature classrooms, study and work spaces, faculty offices, meeting spaces and new cyber security labs. The new space will allow for continued expansion of the College of Business' internship and work scholars programs, and provide space for many of the university's top programs to grow.
A portion of Hedgcock will also undergo renovations as part of the overall project.
The new building will mark a major step forward in the Campus Master Plan, which looks to centrally locate popular academic programs, reduce net square feet through the future demolition of Gries Hall and reduce NMU's overall carbon footprint, which is also a tenet of “Our Compass,” the university's strategic plan.
Fundraising efforts are ongoing, with the option for donors to name classrooms, among other opportunities, in the new building.
“More than $3 million has been committed to the new College of Business building, reflecting our donors' belief in the future of business education at Northern,” said Nicole Blemberg '03 BS, CEO of the NMU Foundation. “This project is an investment not only in our students, but in the future workforce and economic vitality of the Upper Peninsula. Donors are helping create dynamic spaces where students can build skills, connect with industry and prepare for careers close to home—while creating a lasting legacy at Northern.”
Contact the NMU Foundation at 906-227-2627 or foundtn@nmu.edu to learn more about opportunities to give to the College of Business project.