Ann Arbor, Mich.
The University of Michigan began building the $33-million, 99,000-gsf Commons Building in November 2001and expects construction to reach completion in November 2003. Part of the Palmer Drive development, the facility will house a 140-seat lecture hall, conference and meeting rooms, a large, divisible banquet hall, a public deli/café, a retail convenience store, and offices for the Department of Public Safety, the Bioinformatics Department, and the adjacent University Central Power Plant. The building will consist of six floors and a mechanical penthouse. The project team consists of lead designer Smith Group in conjunction with designer Venturi, Scott, Brown & Associates, with Barton Malow Company as project builder.
