$16.55M in UM Infrastructure Projects OK’d

In separate votes, University of Michigan regents approved three infrastructure projects on Ann Arbor’s central campus totaling $16.55 million. The approvals came during the board’s Dec. 13, 2012 meeting.

The largest project is $8.5 million for a new chiller plant, to be located in the lower basement of the South Quad residence hall at 600 E. Madison. The chilling system would serve three buildings: South Quad, West Quad, and the Michigan Union. The project will be funded by UM’s housing unit and coordinated with the $60 million overhaul of South Quad, which regents approved at their September 2012 meeting.

Also approved was a $5.75 million project to upgrade the feed water system at UM’s central power plant, located at 1120 E. Huron. The work includes replacing two de-aerators – devices used in steam-generating boilers – that were installed in the 1940s. According to a staff memo, each deaerator weighs 140,000 pounds when filled, and measures 18 feet in diameter and 20 feet in length.

The third project costs $2.2 million for a fire-suppression system at the Martha Cook residence hall, a four-story building that houses about 140 female students. The building is located at 906 S. University Ave., near the intersection with Tappan.

This report was filed from the Michigan Union’s Anderson room on UM’s central campus, where the regents held their December meeting.