Contractors continue their work behind a safety barrier along Stadium Drive, advancing
a renovation project for Ferris State University’s Student Recreation Center, a project that began in November 2017.
Joseph Haupt, senior project manager for Ferris’ Physical Plant office, said a two-story expansion on the west side of the SRC has been the focus of early construction efforts, in what is a $6.2 million dollar project.
“We have completed footings, foundations and the necessary underground utility work to develop what will be a new weight room and an expanded lobby and reception area,” Haupt said. “Structural steel for those additions has been erected and the metal deck for that new area has been installed. Over the course of the next few months, our subcontractors will work on masonry, roofing and exterior curtain wall systems. This means the addition will be completely enclosed and weather tight, so we can begin construction activities in that area by the end of May.”
University Recreation staff will be working temporarily in the Student Recreation offices until April 29. After April 29, the SRC staff will be relocated to the basement level of the University Center for the summer.
“Phase one of the renovation work began on Monday, March 5, with abatement work taking place in the existing SRC office suite,” Haupt said. “We will have selected demolition work scheduled to begin in that area after those abatement activities are completed.”
The SRC will be closed from Sunday, April 29 through Friday, Aug. 17 to allow subcontractors access to take up Phase Two activities, which will create a more welcoming lobby space with additional seating, a wellness classroom, fitness space, vending, updated restrooms, a single-user restroom and the development of additional equipment storage within the existing SRC building.
“Existing weight room equipment will be relocated from where it is currently being used to the new weight room addition,” Haupt said. “Equipment will be purchased for the fitness room located on the second floor of the new addition as well as the existing fitness room on the second floor,” Haupt said. “UREC staff will also gain much-needed storage facilities as we repurposed the existing weight room into equipment storage.”
“Our schedule has us completing construction activities by Friday, Aug. 17, in time for the SRC staff to move in and be open for business by Friday, Aug. 24 when students are back on campus,” Haupt said.
PHOTO CAPTION: Contractors put structural steel in place as part of a $6.2 million
renovation of Ferris State University’s Student Recreation Center. The SRC will close
on Sunday, April 29 to allow construction and expansion to continue, with the intention
of opening the completed project by Friday, Aug. 24.