University of Michigan regents to vote on Crisler Arena practice facility Thursday
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/bask..._thursday.html
by John Heuser | The Ann Arbor News
Monday January 19, 2009, 1:39 PM
More than five years after a sports architecture firm drew up plans for a practice facility to be built alongside the University of Michigan's Crisler Arena, the school is ready to take a decisive step forward.
On Thursday, the university's Board of Regents will be asked to approve a 50,000 square-foot addition to Crisler, which would be situated on the venue's east side and cost $23.2 million. The new facility, called a player development center by Michigan, would house two basketball practice courts, locker rooms, a strength and conditioning center, a video theater, an area for athletic medicine and offices for coaches and staff members.
Athletic director Bill Martin was not immediately available for comment Monday afternoon, but in a statement released by the university, he said, "This is a major step forward in improving our basketball facilities. This facility will allow our student-athletes to practice later in the day and give them more flexibility in scheduling their academic classes."
The time frame for the construction of the facility is unclear. Pending approval by the regents, however, the athletic department is expected to hire Jickling Lyman Powell Associates as the design architect.
The addition to Crisler Arena will be paid for by athletic department financial resources and gifts.
"Having our coaches' offices, strength and conditioning, video theater, training room and practice court all connected to Crisler Arena will only enhance student-athletes' development and our efficiency as a staff," Michigan men's basketball coach John Beilein said in a statement.