Ann Arbor Construction updates

[Rizzo]

Since I'm done with school and have not yet started my job, I'm bored decided to walk around and take some pictures. Below are mostly U of M construction sites, but there's a few others from around town thrown in.

I will photograph the more major projects such as Ashley Terrace, Public Policy, Children's Hospital, and Michigan Stadium later.


Zaragon Place layed the smack down on a beautiful courtyard apartment building. The architecture was unique, unfortunately it wasn't in a historical area. It will be replaced with a generic 10 story ye "let's try to look olde" pricier apartment building.


Another angle


Before demolition


Stair tower on the new business school. I'll let you be the judge. I'm starting to warm up to it although I admit I miss the building it replaced a bit.


I now understand why some call this the lego building.


From Hill and Tappan Streets.


Front entrance near Dominick's


Old B-School (orange building) as viewed from Michigan Stadium


Restoration work on Martha Cook Residence


A photo U of M would probably put in admissions packets.


Natural History Museum. In my five years here at U of M, I have still not seen the dinosaurs.


The new Hill Dining Hall. This area is where the majority of the dorms are, particularly for freshman and sophomores.

I'm pissed they tore down ALL THE TREES.

Prior to the new dining hall. Notice the continuous sidewalk shaded by mature trees. Now it's obstructed and all concrete


The U has decided to consolidate its dining services into one building. At first, it sounded like a good idea, but many students agree that it crushes dorm culture where you'd go down to the cafeteria and spend time eating with friends in your building. The larger structure would make the experience a bit more intimidating and difficult to meet new people when you are among thousands. Who really knows, but I will forever miss Couzens Hall. Best experience of my life.


Some new stuff on top of the powerplant


The now complete Cardiovascular Center


Side of the building


The other side.


New Biomedical Building with it's wave wall and stack of pringles.

Many more updates coming soon!

[hudkina]

That red is ugly as hell. The design is okay, but the red is terrible. I know that we always put down generic buildings, but damn, this is not what people mean when they ask for originality...

[Rizzo]

The renderings show it as a neutral red granite. I guess that $100 mil donation only went so far. If they would have used the stone, it would have been much better.

[the urban politician]

^ I think I hung out in this building one night many years ago

[DetroitMan]

Great update Hayward, btw do you think you could get photos of Upland Green.

[DecoJim]

Thanks for sharing these photos.

At least the business school is not a post-modern take on collegiate gothic! Other than the color, I like it.

I really need to walk the campus and see what has changed since I graduated; it appears that there is quite a bit that is new. Of course the old economics building was still standing when I was a freshman at UoM.

[ColDayMan]

Construction is always good.

[Folk313]

More shitty architecture from the University of Michigan.

[Rizzo]

You haven't seen the worst

[Rizzo]

It's been awhile, but all I have are these construction cam updates
Source of images and renderings: http://www.plantext.bf.umich.edu/projects.html

CS Mott Children's Hospital












North Quad Residence Hall (Mixed use facility)



Large Images:
http://www.plantext.bf.umich.edu/pro...ad/design.html



Michigan Stadium:


Larger Images:
http://www.plantext.bf.umich.edu/pro...um/design.html

[Michi]

I understand the argument about keeping a certain character that Ann Arbor has, but I don't understand how it really plays in the city's transition in densifying and growing into the future that it has to be anti-highrise in order to keep that character. I don't think that should be the case because urban design can be done in a way that really creates a unique and likeable sense of place. If any place should understand that, it is the education-driven marketplace of Ann Arbor.

[Rizzo]

I agree.

I think the character argument really only becomes a major issue when you are replacing older structures that contributed firmly to the neighborhood fabric with ones that refuse to be a part of it.

Well intentioned decades ago, they demolished older building stock for parking or "suburban styled" establishments because they thought it would encourage more downtown activity. Fortunately we didn't lose much, but we know that these ideas are in the past and are starting to replace lots and less the desirable structures.

So yeah. you want to replace a parking lot with a 14 story building and people start complaining. I think a lot of people in this city want different things, and Ann Arbor is nice enough to give everyone a voice. But I think it's getting in the way of a functional development plan.

[DecoJim]

Ann Arbor seems to have a lot going on compared to many other Michigan cities.

Here are a few of my pictures of a three of the construction projects:

411 Lofts Student Housing (Division and Huron)

(Photos from my flickr account.)


North Quad:

One interesting feature is the facade from the old Carnegie Library:


C.S. Mott Children and Women's Hospital Replacement Project:

(larger versions of these images on my flickr account)

Is the demand for student housing rising enough for not only North Quad and 411 Lofts but also that 26 story student housing tower on at Church and S. University?

[Rizzo]

Also don't forget the higher end mega student housing project going up on North Campus. That development is getting huge.

Yeah, I think the demand is there. The out of state students seem to be getting richer. Our rent is nothing compared to what you might pay if you were coming from say... UCLA. So dropping $1100-1300/month on rent is nothing. Especially as you move Northwest of campus, rents begin to increase.

This new development should solve the problems of U of M's dorms overcrowding.......... for now. Maybe they can take all the beds out of the study lounges.

[the urban politician]

Thanks for all the updates, guys.

What's great about Ann Arbor is that one can be completely carless and live on campus as a student while still engaging the lively city around him. I emphasis "engaging the city" because of course most college campuses have a large carless population, but very few of them (outside of big cities) offer such a dynamic, non-campus urban environment for them to interact with.

Please keep posting pics when you can. You definitely have an audience.

[Rizzo]

^ Glad you are enjoying them!

Kellogg Eye Center Expansion (not really up to my design expectations, but I it's really about what goes on inside. They truly work miracles like you wouldn't believe.


4Eleven Lofts from a different perspective atop Tally Hall Parking Structure


Completely redone baseball stadium. It really fits well in the athletic campus


Zaragon Place @ The University of Michigan


Looking way better than those crappy elevations we got from the city website.


North Quad from Tally Hall Parking. You can see CS Mott Hospital Construction behind the left smokestack in the distance.

[Rizzo]

Just noticed the interesting view you get coming into AA on M-14 when the valley opens up in front of you. Lots of steel skeletons on the skyline.



And another new building to rise after one of my unfaves is demoed. The downtown library will be torn down and rebuilt.

http://blog.mlive.com/annarbornews/2...own_ann_a.html

While we are at it, I want a more appealing federal building and post office. And I haven't heard much news on constructing a new police and courts building.

[subterranean]

I come in that way nearly every day for school, and it's a cool view. Unfortunately (and fortunately, depending on how you look at it) I have classes on North campus...I don't have to deal with the stress of downtown. Although I love downtown, my job makes me a (ugg) commuter. Thankfully the Green Park and Ride and the "free" buses allow me to (somewhat) offset the congestion.

[DecoJim]

Here are a few updates on projects posted previously:

411 Lofts:

I took this photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/decojim/2864560678/

North Quad:

I took this photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/decojim...n/photostream/

Expansion of Michigan Stadium:

I took this photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/decojim...n/photostream/

[Jasoncw]

I was on a roof on a building on North Campus, and the view had a ton of cranes in it.