Regents approve $21M weight room for Michigan football program

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Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh watches over practice at the Oosterbaan Field House on Thursday, March 19, 2015. (Melanie Maxwell | The Ann Arbor News)

ANN ARBOR, MI - The University of Michigan Board of Regents voted to approve a new $21 million weight room for the UM football program within Bennie Oosterbaan Field House during its meeting on Thursday, Feb. 16.

The project will construct a 32,000-square-foot weight room, including a 5,000-gross-square-foot mezzanine level, within the existing building for strength and conditioning training.

The project, which was passed unanimously by the Board of Regents, did not come without some opposition. UM club sports students represented by men's rugby team President Nate Fisher voiced concern that their sports are going to be impacted by the decreased space in Oosterbaan, due to the construction of the weight room.

Fisher said he spoke with the athletic department about his concerns, noting that one-third of UM's club sports teams use Oosterbaan for practices, scrimmages and games.

Oosterbaan Field House, which was constructed in 1980, also serves as the indoor playing field for the UM lacrosse team.

"Athletic administrators were gracious enough to meet with us and provide details about the project," Fisher said. "We appreciate that they feel their plans will provide our teams with a suitable alternative to what we are losing in Oosterbaan, but the reality is that the impact on our community will be significant."

UM Athletics Director Warde Manuel recognized the obstacles teams will face in the meantime while construction of the weight room is in progress, but noted that space ultimately would be found for those teams to be relocated into.

"There are concerns on all sides, I definitely understand," Manuel said. "We'll continue to work provide the best facilities for our varsity teams, for club sports and for rec usage."

Fisher suggested the construction of a new indoor practice facility for club sports as a potential solution for what he believes will be a shortage in space.

"If the capacity of Oosterbaan is reduced by 40 percent, only one team can safely practice at a time, cutting our time in half, and preventing our teams from sufficiently defending our titles or effectively continuing and growing our programs," he said.

The project will address infrastructure and life safety needs, including replacement of the existing roof, installation of new fire alarm and suppression systems and upgrades to the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and lighting systems throughout the 78,000-square-foot building.

UM's football team currently does its strength training on the first floor of the Al Glick Field House, where approximately 12,000 square feet is provided for weight lifting. The $26 million, 104,000-square-foot facility was constructed in 2009.

Funding for the Oosterbaan Field House project would be provided from Athletic Department resources and gifts. The architectural firm of Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates in association with HNTB would design the project, if approved.

The project is expected to provide an average of 56 on-site construction jobs. Construction is scheduled to be completed in the winter of 2018.

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