The Michigan Daily - New Student Edition - Tuesday, September 3, 2002 - 3C Changing the face of campus of LSI IIHill receives $2 Next phase i constructioni By Maria Sprow Daily Staff Reporter The shovel hit the dirt on the construction site of the new Biomedical Science Research Build- ing for the first time in a groundbreaking cere- mony April 16. The BSRB is part of the Life Sciences Initia- tive started under former University President Lee Bollinger. "It was a wonderful day. The sun was shining and we take that as a wonderful sign of a bright future for the Medical School and for biomedical science on our campus," Medical School Dean Allen Lichter said. Though the building is not scheduled to be completed until Dec. 5, 2005, those involved with the project are already boasting its beauty and significance to the University. Gil Omenn, executive vice president for med- ical affairs, said the building's architecture alone - a futuristic glass mecca thought up by the Polshek and Partners Architects LLP located in New York - will be enough to make it stand out among the rest of campus. "There is a great visual. It's going to be a spectacular view as you come up Washtenaw (Avenue) up to the bend on to Huron (Street). begins- There will be an undulatinga glass ribbon of offices with a very attractive research labora- tory building to the north of the office ribbon," Omenn said.: "It'll be a landmark for the University, a signature building. , Design is not all the building will be known for, Lichter said, adding that the BSRB should" also serve as a unifying struc- ture for the University.a "It forms the bridge between the Medical School and the Life Sciences Institute and the bridge between the Medical Campus and the Central Cam- pus," Lichter said. "It's a very Work on the Bion exciting project and we are the tUfe Sciences proud to be a part of this initia- What the buildin tive." At 470,000 gross square feet, the building, which will cost more than $22 million and hold 240 labs and 130 offices, will be twice the size of the LSI complex located across the street. The new complex will primarily be used by Medical School faculty and students working in fields, including neuroscience, stem cell, geron- million donation By Sarah Scott Daily Staff Reporter BRANDON SEDLOFF/Daily medical Science Research Building, located across from s institute, began April 15. Insert: A computer rendition of g will look like when construction is completed. tology, aging and cardiovascular research. The BSRB is the next-to-last element of the Life Sciences Initiative to be launched. Though many aspects of the Initiative have been underway for years, construction for a North Campus biomedical engineering building has not begun and its groundbreaking date has not been set. A $2 million donation from the Elizabeth E. Kennedy Fund will allow the University to construct a lower lobby in Hill Auditorium, which began renovations in May. The money will go toward the construction and furnishing of the lobby, which does not presently exist in Hill. The lobby will be named for Kennedy and built beneath the current one. "The lobby will be a gathering place for people before and after concerts and during intermission," said Ken Fischer, president of the University Musical Society. "The creation of a lobby in her name will enhance the patrons' experi- ence." The Kennedys have always been supportive of UMS, said John Dob- son, secretary of the Elizabeth E. Kennedy fund. "Elizabeth had her own great interest in the musical society and music at Michigan," Dobson said. "What Elizabeth Kennedy is essentially saying is 'I grew up in this town, I love this town, and as I'm in the twilight of my life, I want people to be able to enjoy that place more,"' Fischer said. For the School of Music, the new lobby will mean a place to have special events related to its con- certs, as well as to provide a green room for performers, said Karen Wolff, dean of the School of Music. "In addition, we hope we will be able to place items from the Stearns Collection of musical instruments in cases in the lobby," Wolff said. Hill Auditorium is one of the only performance halls of its kind where patrons cannot even get a cup of coffee, Fischer said. "She's adding some patron amenities that have been grossly inadequate at Hill for years," said Fisher. "The University is just deeply grateful because this is a project that we didn't know if it would happen and this gift truly make the space possible," said Mathwon Howard, associate regional director of major and planned gifts and the development officer working with the Kennedy Fund. "It's just going to be an awesome experience for the patrons." Regents plan for undergraduate science center, increase residence hall rates By Tyler Boersen and Shannon Pettypiece Daily Staff Reporters Plans for the Undergraduate Science Instruction Center were unveiled and unanimously approved by the University Board of Regents at their monthly meeting on April 18. The estimated cost of the USIC is $61 million, and part of the funding will come from the sale of University land to Pfizer for $17 million. The USIC will be located between the Power Center for the Performing Arts and the Life Sciences Institute on the corner of Palmer Drive and Zina Pitcher Place. The building will include offices for free programs, laboratories, a life sci- ences library, wet life laboratories, a small animal facility and computer labs. One of the main goals of the project is to develop an interdisciplinary and community atmosphere. "In the spirit of the Life Sciences building, this brings multiple disciplines together," building architect Victor Cardona said. The plans include a four-story, L-shaped "generic loft"-style brick building with outdoor areas for students and faculty to interact, architect Bob Venturi told the regents at the meeting. The building is meant to reflect the architectural style of Albert Khan, who designed several other University buildings, including Angell Hall, Hill Auditori- um and the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library. In order to make the environment more conducive for student interaction, the architects designed a series of incidental seating places, including lounges and subtle outdoor meeting spots, similar to the raised patches of grass in front of the David Dennison Building. The regents also approved a 4.95 percent increase in residence hall fees for next year and changes to the University's policy for granting in-state tuition status. Residence hall fees for a double room will increase by nearly $300 to $6,366. Single rooms will increase to $7,580. The increased costs will be used to upgrade fire protection systems in several residence halls and to pay for a significant increase in internet access and use by students living in residence halls. New rules for in-state status hope to clarify the existing policy and make it easier for students to claim in-state tuition who move with parents due to employment reasons. Another main focus of the regents' attention was hospital finance, which the regents expressed much concern over at last month's meeting. Vice President for Medical Affairs Gill Omenn discussed the hospital's finan- cial health compared to other universities, but the discussion soon turned to how to keep the system strong in the future. "We need to make plans so five years from now we aren't sitting here with huge debts," Regent Andrea Fischer Newman (R-Ann Arbor) said. "We want to see the future as well as the past." Chief Financial Officer Robert Kasdin warned that discussion over the finan- cial shape of the health system should not indicate that the system is in danger. "We are having this discussion not because the sky is falling but because we want to be ahead of the curve," Regent Larry Deitch (D-Bingham Farms) said. "We just want to move forward from this position of strength to maintain this edge." Regents questioned the further development of medical services, which did not earn the hospital's additional revenue and urged Omenn to look at services such as the cardiovascular and cancer centers as ways to maintain the gap between income and expenditures. Several of the vacant seats in the administration were also filled yesterday. Daniel Sharphorn and Gloria Hage, both attorneys in the General Counsel's Office, were appointed to the position of Deputy General Counsel. The position was previously held by Liz Barry, who is now the managing director of the Life Sciences Institute. The position of interim Chief Financial Officer will be filled by Timothy Slot- tow, who has been involved in University finance since 1998. He is taking over the position currently held by Kasdin, who will be starting a new job at Columbia University this spring. Hill Auditorium closed in May in order to begin a $38.6 million renovation project scheduled to last until Fall 2003. SHOSHANA HURAND/Daily Students expecting to live in residence halls like Alice Lloyd Residence Hall should expect an increase in room rates. ------------- j North Campus facilities could receive face-lift Offic Division of St By Annie Gleason Daily Staff Reporter North Campus seems to provide little entertainment for the students who find themselves stranded there, miles from the bustling atmosphere provided by the central campus area. "There's not a whole lot to do," LSA sophomore Jonathon Thorndy- craft said. "Most of the social activ- ities are down on central." But conditions are expected to change for the better. In addition to the numerous arts programs that are already offered on a daily basis, stu- dents can expect improvements to Pierpont Commons and residence halls as well. Former interim University Presi- dent B. Joseph White had shown interest in improving the availability of activities for students on North Campus. In a statement, White said, "Over the past several years we have worked to make the North Campus a more attractive and interesting human environment. The students, faculty and staff who live and work "We're continuing to explore the possibilities for enriching this aspect of the North campus," - B. Joseph White Former Interim University President desire for improvements at Pierpont. While the current state of Pierpont is not very accommodating to stu- dents living on North Campus, major renovations are under way. Brian Tubbs, interim Arts and Program coordinator for Pierpont, said both a convenience store and a recreation room are expected to be added to the commons in the near future. He said the renovations will likely begin during the summer but first need the approval of the University made to the first floor, there are also plans to redesign the ground level of the commons. Currently, Leonardo's, the restau- rant area in the lower level or Pier- pont, is used by various musical groups for performances, including jazz, open mic, improvisational and local bands. "Espresso Royale Cafe will be moved back to create a larger open area for bands to perform," said Tubbs. Improvements are also being made by the residence halls on North Campus. Bursley Residence Hall recently redesigned its North- bar convenience store to create The Blue Apple. The grand opening took place with a live band, food and a raffle. The renovations have created a more lounge-like atmosphere outside the store, and more items have been added to the store. Bursley and Baits activities are also offered once a month to all residents. "Bursley has one of the strongest communities for a residence hall," said Timothy Winslow, president of rshi Education d the Classroom Walls rship Connection 1IFY iltural Leadership Seminar gan LeaderShape gan Leadership Awards :o Lazos-Weaving Connections Organizaieon Support ' .. A