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Swan Annex Expansion, Revisions Advance on Time and Under Budget

Ferris State UniversityA Ferris State University building project featuring years of discussion, planning and development is now several months from completion as contractors continue renovation to and expansion of the Swan Technical Arts Building Annex.

Associate Vice President for Physical Plant Mike Hughes said work has progressed on several fronts, during the winter, as more than 34,000 square feet of new construction will be incorporated in Ferris’ Center for Welding Excellence and its Center for Advanced Manufacturing.

“There will be an approximate doubling of the space available for Welding laboratories in the building,” Hughes said. “Those using the Swan Technical Arts Building are now able to access the facility from Lot 13 as a new pedestrian bridge has been installed and put into service. Masonry work continues, along Ives Avenue, as work continues on that portion of the addition which will house the new Welding laboratory space.”

The main corridor to access the building from the south was completed at the end of February. Hughes said, during March, work will conclude on the Ferris State Universitythird phase of the project as the fourth phase, in the northwest quadrant of the building, begins. Between April and early August, the plan is to construct Metallurgy laboratories, a CAD/CAM lab and Industrial Engineering and Automation facilities.

“Some of the work underway that is evident from the outside would be the installation of structural steel along the east side of the building, near Ives Avenue,” Hughes said. “Projects being undertaken, in later phases of the addition and renovation, will include a resistance lab, additional laboratory space for special purposes, along with a laboratory for dies and molds.”

Hughes said the $30 million project continues toward an August completion date so furniture and equipment can be placed prior to the start of the 2018-19 academic year.

“We have been able to advance on schedule and budget, toward the intended completion time frame for this project,” Hughes said. “We have been able to deal with whatever challenges have arisen, as we advance through the phases of construction.”

It is expected the renovation and addition to the Swan Technical Arts Building Annex will achieve Silver status, in terms of LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design status, as determined by the U.S. Green Building Council.


PHOTO CAPTION: Work continues on the $30 million Swan Technical Arts Building Annex expansion and renovation project at Ferris State University. The metal framework to enlarge the building along Ives Avenue was taken up during the month of March.