One of the plethora of construction projects underway at the University of Michigan is set to wrap up by the end of the semester (that's December for those of you who can barely remember college).
Renovation work on the university's School of Public Health building, on Observatory Street in the midst of the Hill area's dormitories, is expected to finish by December. The restoration project on the Henry F Vaughan Public Health Building --named after the school's first dean-- includes renovating the oldest sections of the building as well as a 125,000-square-foot addition.
The seven-floor addition spans Washington Heights to connect to the Thomas Francis Jr. building, another structure that is part of the School of Public Health named after a university doctor who helped pioneer flu shots. The addition houses modern open laboratories, instructional spaces, student and faculty interaction spaces, and offices.
Work on the addition was recently finished. Construction crews are now working to finish renovations to oldest parts of the original building. Those improvements include new mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and life safety systems, along with a new roof and installing air conditioning throughout the building.
The Vaughan Building was constructed in 1942. A series of additions were built in the 1940's and 50's. The latest addition/renovation began in the summer of 2003.
Source: Diane Brown, senior information officer for facilities and operations at UofM
Writer: Jon Zemke
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