Add as a preferred source on Google

WMU Prepares Three Dorms for Demolition

  • By Matt Jones
  • 04/27/21

Western Michigan University, located in Kalamazoo, Mich., is readying its campus for a major construction initiative. According to a recent news release, contractors are preparing three small dorms for demolition while taking care to preserve and protect some natural historic features on the grounds.

The university’s South Neighborhood Sub-campus Master Plan will rework the southern part of campus to build new student housing, a dining facility and student center, retail establishments, and other venues in a development known as the Hilltop Village. The first step of the construction is to remove three older campus residence halls—Davis, Zimmerman, and French Halls. Construction fences have already gone up around the facilities. Davis and Davis Dining are scheduled for demolition in the first week of May, followed by Zimmerman and later French, to be complete by the end of September.

Davis Hall originally opened in 1954. Davis Dining and Zimmerman opened in 1955, and French opened in 1960.

During the planning process, a campus committee identified a burr oak tree at the site that’s at least 200 years old, predating both the university’s founding and Michigan’s statehood. This historic heritage tree will be preserved during the demolition and construction process alongside a pin oak from the 1950s. Several other, smaller trees have already been moved to other locations on campus, according to project manager Shannon Sauer-Becker.

“We have been very selective with what we are taking out and will be protecting what will remain,” Sauer-Becker said. “There won’t be any heavy equipment in the courtyard. We highlighted what might be particularly valuable to maintain, and construction will take these natural features into account.”

Dr. Todd Barkman is a professor of biological sciences and was a member of the campus tree advisor committee that identified the historic natural features worth saving. He said he looks forward to the burr oak gaining prominence as the new development project rises around it.

“Early input on the project was sought and given, and a great outcome is resulting,” said Barkman. “This has been a great example of the University administration embracing the intent of our Tree Campus Higher Education status and how the teaching interests of our campus can be balanced with those of our landscaping professionals and campus planners.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • KI Launches K–12 Classroom Furniture Giveaway

    Contract furniture company KI recently announced the launch of its fourth-annual Classroom Furniture Giveaway, which awards $50,000 each to four K–12 educators across the U.S., according to a news release. The goal is to address decreasing student engagement and increasing teacher burnout numbers by updating learning spaces to accommodate modern needs.

  • Malibu High School Campus Completes $102M Phase 1 of Construction

    Malibu High School in Malibu, Calif., recently announced that it has completed phase 1 of construction for its new campus, a news release reports. The first phase consisted of developing and modernizing the site of a former elementary school into a new, 70,000-square-foot, two-story facility.

  • LSU Breaks Ground on $200M Residential Project

    Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., recently broke ground on a new residential complex, according to university news. The South Quad residential project will consist of two buildings and add a total of 1,266 beds for freshmen students. The development comes with a price tag of $200 million, and it’s scheduled to open to students in fall 2027.

  • UNL Kiewit Hall

    Designing for Engineering Excellence: Integrating Sustainability and Wellness at UNLs Kiewit Hall

    Kiewit Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln exemplifies how academic institutions can integrate sustainability and wellness into modern learning environments. With an integrated and collaborative team approach, Kiewit Hall addresses enhanced learning and creativity, physical health, and mental wellness, and fosters a sense of community through innovative design, operations, and policy solutions.

Digital Edition