Service to students, visitors behind SAB renovation plan

A renovation of the Student Activities Building (SAB) on Central Campus, approved by the Board of Regents July 21, will improve service to current and prospective students, says Janet Weiss, associate provost for academic affairs. The SAB houses a number of offices that provide services, mostly to undergraduate students.

Students complete housing contracts in the Student Activities Building. (Photo by Paul Jaronski, U-M Photo Services)

"The original building has been added onto several times, and each time has gotten more maze-like," Weiss says. "The renovation is intended to make the building much more student and visitor friendly."

The 40,000 gross-square-foot renovation project will involve both cosmetic changes and comprehensive remodeling to some areas. It will feature a significant upgrade to the visitor's center, making it larger and more high-tech with the opportunity for multimedia presentations targeted at prospective students and visitors, Weiss says.

An additional goal of the renovation will be to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the offices of Admissions, Student Financial Operations, Housing Information and Financial Aid by consolidating services that currently are spread throughout the building, and relocating some complementary services near one another.

Making student services more accessible was one recommendation of the 2001 President's Commission on the Undergraduate Experience. "It's important for us to create a place where students feel welcome to seek help with the business side of being a student, to make the bureaucracy less intimidating. That was highlighted in the commission report," Weiss says. "To the extent that a building can accomplish that, this is what we are trying to do."

The renovation also will address code and accessibility requirements. It will not impact on parking. No additional services will be moved into the building.

The cost of the project is $8.5 million, two thirds of which is expected to come from the State of Michigan. The SAB is one of three U-M projects submitted to the state in April to receive 2005 Supplemental Capital Outlay funding promised by the governor. The remaining cost will be covered by investment proceeds.

In addition to approving the project, regents hired Gensler Architecture, Design & Planning Worldwide to design the renovation. A timetable for construction will be announced at the time regents approve a design.