The Feb. 14 university forum focused on upcoming and ongoing construction projects, their timelines for completion and the impacts some will have on parking, traffic flow and entry points into impacted buildings.
“All of this does cause a bit of frustration and congestion and redirection in the short term,” said NMU President Brock Tessman. “But if you hear prospective students and their families talk as they walk around our campus today, or if you think about your work or study environments, we really do have an amazing campus. It's an asset for Northern. These new projects will propel us further down that positive path, so these temporary inconveniences are all for a good cause.”
Tessman announced rescheduled times for work sessions to gather ideas for Wildcat Way, a concept included in the most recent Campus Master Plan. The pedestrian corridor will connect campus from end to end and include various spaces for gathering, outdoor activities, art, sustainability promotion, historical/heritage acknowledgments and study areas. Landscape architects from the Smith Group will meet with faculty and staff from 3-5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, in Jamrich 1322. They will also obtain student feedback on the same day from 9:30-12:30 and 1:30-2:30 in the Jamrich lounge area, and from 5:30-8 p.m. at Northern Lights Dining.
Vice President for Finance and Administration Gavin Leach announced that the student demand for on-campus housing options—especially this year—has led to preliminary discussions about expanding apartment options.
Leach summarized ongoing and upcoming facilities projects as follows:
Harden Hall: The library has relocated to Gries Hall, while its books are stored in the Quad II facility. Interior demolition has begun. The area will be mobilized for heavy duty work in March, which is when parking and access will start to be disrupted. The northern section of parking lot 28 (east of Harden Hall and behind Jamrich) will be closed from March through completion of the project. An area on the academic mall outside Harden Hall will be blocked off to accommodate the third- and fourth-floor addition beginning in May.
Science Complex Labs/Offices Addition: Construction will begin on the back side of Weston Hall in April so that the structure will be enclosed before winter arrives, allowing interior work to be completed during those months. Completion is slated by August 2025.
Vandament Arena: The space is an empty shell now, as construction is underway to convert the facility for dual use as the home court for Wildcat basketball in addition to volleyball. The project will be completed in August.
Superior Dome Catwalk Repairs and Turf Replacement: The catwalk maintenance work will occur May 13-31 and the turf replacement is scheduled June 24-Aug. 9.
Berry Events Center, Phase II: Following replacement of the ice-making system, the focus now shifts to the replacement of three rooftop air-handling units May 6-July 15.
Northern Enterprise Center: The new home for the College of Business will be an addition to Hedgcock. The project received capital outlay funding from the State. Design work is scheduled April-December of this year, and construction is to be determined based on when the state gives its required authorization. The project will likely begin around May 2025.
Director of Facilities and Campus Planning Jim Thams and Chief of Police Mike Bath used campus maps to show which parking areas and building entrances will be impacted by the projects. View that part of the presentation or the entire forum here.
The next university forum, covering general topics, is scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, in Jamrich 1100.