Renovations to alter traffic patterns

Three major building renovation projects—the School of Public Health (SPH), the LSA Building and the Advanced Technologies Laboratories (ATL) building—begin this month, requiring traffic pattern changes for pedestrians and motorists.

The most significant traffic impact will occur later this month when the western end of Washington Heights is closed. Pedestrian and vehicle traffic will be detoured along E. Medical Center Drive on the north side of Mary Markley Hall and SPH I.

Above: The herringbone pattern adjacent to the School of Public Health buildings indicates a hard hat area; no one but authorized personnel may enter this zone during the construction project. The dashed arrows show pedestrian traffic routes. Click here or on the image above to download a detailed color pdf map of the construction area. Below, an architect's rendering of the School of Public Health Building addition. (Courtesy U-M Plant Extension)

The SPH project includes the demolition of portions of the Henry F. Vaughan Public Health Building-SPH I, as well as the pedestrian bridge that connects the two SPH buildings. A new seven-story addition will span Washington Heights and connect to the Thomas Francis Jr.-SPH II Building. The addition will house modern laboratories, instructional spaces, student and faculty interaction areas, and offices.

"The new SPH building and construction project is likely the most exciting and innovative infrastructure project in recent SPH history," says Martin Philbert, senior associate dean for research at SPH. "We're excited, but we also know we'll have some disruption while the project takes place. Hopefully everyone will remain patient and look forward to the final result."

While Washington Heights is scheduled to be closed for 15 months, the project will continue through fall 2006.

Unlike the SPH project, the renovations in the LSA Building will be concentrated within the building. Mechanical and electrical systems will be updated, including heating and ventilation. Air-conditioning will be added to the building, and accessibility throughout the building will be improved to meet current codes. Fire detection and suppression systems also will be installed to meet codes.

"Because the infrastructure upgrades will be so extensive, we decided it would be more appropriate and cost effective to relocate all of the departments within the building during the three-year project," says Robert Johnston, director of facilities for LSA. "Most of the building occupants, such as the registrar, Cashier's Office, the sociology department and LSA administration, will return to the building after the project is finished. Anthropology and WUOM permanently have been relocated."

Two small parking lots west of the LSA Building, W4 and W5, have been closed for the duration of the project.

On North Campus, the Biomedical Engineering addition and renovations to the ATL building are scheduled to begin Feb. 18.

A two-story addition will be erected, and 29,000 square feet of existing space will be renovated to provide a new home for the College of Engineering's Department of Biomedical Engineering.

The labs will house research in molecular imaging, biomaterials, microfluidics, tissue engineering, biomolecular engineering and molecular electrophysiology.

The initial work will involve closing the ATL loading dock and erecting site fencing. The project is scheduled to be complete in fall 2006.