Saginaw Valley State University completes renovation of academic building
Key Highlights
- The $28.8 million renovation was funded through a combination of state and university money.
- Updated facilities include flexible classrooms and labs equipped with cutting-edge technology.
- The renovation aims to create a welcoming environment that enhances student engagement and academic success.
Saginaw Valley State University in University Center, Michigan, has reopened Brown Hall after being closed 15 months for renovations.
The Midland Daily News reports that the university sought to balance the features of the original structure built in 1986 with the renovations, including keeping the original brick in some areas while having more windows for a better flow of natural light.
The university says it allocated $28.8 million for the renovation. The State of Michigan appropriated $21.8 million toward the project; the university provide $7 million.
The facility, which had classrooms and faculty offices for many academic departments, sustained significant damage in the fire in March 2019.
The hall had 15 departments when it was first built but now has fewer, according to Dean of Arts and Behavorial Sciences Brandon Haskett.
“Brown Hall will house seven different arts and behavioral science departments with fewer occupants than 1986 in an enlarged building, and will truly exemplify the standout facilities and beautiful campus that SVSU was known for," Haskett says. "The active learning classroom and lab spaces will provide flexibility of instructional strategies in a myriad of options for engaging our students in hands-on, real-world learning opportunities.”
Haskett says the the space will be welcoming to help students have a better academic experience and the building's cutting-edge technology will help students prepare for pursuit of jobs.