Board approves housing building, rec center addition

The Grand Valley State University Board of Trustees approved the construction of a new housing and academic building and an addition to the Recreation Center on the Allendale Campus during its February 13 meeting at the L. William Seidman Center in Grand Rapids.

The 145,000-square-foot housing building will be located east of Mackinac Hall, where Robinson Field is currently located. The project involves tearing down Icie Macy Hoobler Living Center, which will begin in May. Hoobler Living Center was built in 1987 and includes 50 beds.

The new housing building will accommodate 498 students in traditional-style bedroom units and include study space, laundry facilities, lounge space, a game room and outdoor recreational space. The building will also include three classrooms, a computer lab, media room and three faculty offices, as well as a multi-purpose room and Einstein’s Bagel food service.

Funding for the $37-million-dollar project will come from university-issued bonds, the University General Fund and the Housing Capital Reserve Fund. Construction will begin in March, with a target move in date of August 2016. Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr and Huber, Inc. will be the project architect/engineer and Erhardt Construction will be the construction manager for the project.

The 16,900-square-foot addition to the Recreation Center will go on the south side of the center. The projected cost is $7.8 million and will be funded by the Campus Development Fund. The project is scheduled for completion in August 2016.

The new addition will provide more space for cardio equipment, such as treadmills and elliptical trainers, and strength training equipment, such as free weights and weight machines.

“College students do better academically when they visit their campus recreation centers,” said Kate Harmon, director of Campus Recreation. “Exercise improves memory retention, increases focus and concentration, relieves stress and helps improve mood. Since we’re a student-centered institution, it is our job to help reduce barriers that prevent our students from experiencing the benefits of exercise.”

The Recreation Center opened in 1995 with 54,000 square feet; an 18,000-square-foot addition was added in 2002. The 11,500-square-foot space that is currently used for cardio and weight exercises will also undergo a basic renovation.

• Science Lab Building
The Board of Trustees also received an update on construction of the Science Laboratory Building on the Allendale Campus. The 151,000-square-foot, four-story building will open in August. The project includes construction of the Marketplace, which will open in April. The Marketplace includes food services and the new university bookstore, now called GVSU Laker Store. The current bookstore, located in the Kirkhof Center, will be renovated this summer into additional food service space.

• Room and board rates
Students will see a modest increase in room and board rates beginning with the fall 2015 semester; the board voted to increase the rate 2.8 percent. The cost per semester in a traditional living center at Grand Valley will go up $5 to $2,755. Students can choose from a variety of meal plans. The cost for the 14-meal a week plan per semester will increase $75 and cost $1,425.

This year’s increase in room and board rates at Grand Valley is less than the five-year state average increase of 3 percent at public universities in Michigan.

The fall 2014 occupancy rate at Grand Valley was again at an all-time high with 6,084 students living on campus. Campus dining plans have also reached an all-time high with more than 8,000 students purchasing a meal plan. That means students who don’t live on campus still choose to use campus dining.

• New master’s degree
Board members approved a new master’s degree program in medical dosimetry. The program will begin in the fall semester. Roy Olsson, dean of the College of Health Professions, said adding a graduate program in medical dosimetry fits well with the college’s undergraduate program in radiation therapy. Olsson said Grand Valley is one of a select number of universities in the nation, and the only one in Michigan, to offer a master’s program in medical dosimetry.

He added that current practicing radiation therapists would be interested in enrolling to continue their education and for job advancement. The master’s program would also be a bachelor’s to master’s option for practicing medical dosimetrists.

• New public school academies
Board members approved the authorization of two new public school academies by Grand Valley’s Charter Schools Office. The schools include Augusta Academy in Augusta, which will operate as a K-6 school at full capacity of 300 students; and Grand River Preparatory High School in Kentwood, which will operate as a 9-12 school at full capacity of 800 students. The board also approved the appointment or reappointment of charter school board members to GVSU authorized public school academy boards.

This was the first board meeting for new trustees Victor Cardenas and Megan Sall, who were appointed to the board in December by Gov. Snyder. Both are Grand Valley alumni.