A peek into the future for the medical school that will soon be going up on the campus of
Western Michigan University comes with the school's request to review qualifications submitted by companies interested in managing the construction project.
The location of the building has not been pinpointed but a picture of some of its dimensions is taking shape based on the type of experience needed to take on the project.
Businesses applying should indicate their experience with projects like an academic medical school project of 150,000 square feet or larger and the construction of simulation labs such as those found in a medical school. They also should be able to show they have experience with incorporating sustainable design principles into the building and have completed projects for an institution of higher education.
The firm selected for the job will be one with a significant presence in Michigan and experience with a similar project.
WMU's David Dakin, who chairs the facilities committee for the medical school says they are seeking a firm with experience overseeing projects in similar size, scope and function to the one WMU will be building. The firm selected will be hired as the project enters the design phase and it will help with the selection of the site for the new building.
The new
School of Medicine is a partnership between WMU and Kalamazoo's two teaching hospitals, Borgess Health and Bronson Healthcare. The startup date for the school is planned for fall 2014.
This year WMU received an anonymous donation of $100 million to get the medical school off the ground. School officials estimate at least another $200 million is needed to fully fund the program.
Writer: Kathy Jennings
Source: Cheryl Roland, WMU
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