OU expanding with $45M renovation
Oakland University’s Board of Trustees have approved a schematic design and budget to expand one of the institution’s classroom buildings on campus.
A $45 million renovation is planned for the five-story Varner Hall. The building houses several academic departments, administration offices, classrooms and the university’s main performance space and recital hall. It was originally built in 1971 and cost about $4.8 million to construct.
Recent estimates found that the building has a deferred maintenance repair cost of $27.5 million. The expansion is meant to help increase the building’s efficiency and better utilize the performance spaces.
The project will be funded through a series of bonds also approved by the board of trustees in June 2019. Stantec, a global architectural and engineering firm, was also approved to work on the project this August. Granger, a Michigan and Ohio construction management company, were also brought on at the same time.