East Lansing - After years of speculation and anticipation in the downtown community, Michigan State University's Board of Trustees today approved the next step in furthering MSU's College of Human Medicine's presence in downtown Grand Rapids, with the demolition of the old Press building and the addition of a new biomedical research center at the corner of Monroe Avenue and Michigan Street. The new five story Grand Rapids Biomedical Research Building will anchor the corner, with the remainder of the site being offered to public/private partner-developers for possible additional residential, commercial and retail opportunities.
After the medical school opened their new headquarters in the MSU Secchia Center on the Medical Mile in 2010, they have been working to expand their offerings in the Grand Rapids area, as well as ramp up life sciences research in the region. In 2012, MSU purchased 7.85 acres of land in downtown Grand Rapids and the Monroe North area, previously owned by The Grand Rapids Press. The university had not made a final decision as to the fate of the 173,000 square foot Press building until today.
"Demolition allows MSU to build a facility that best achieves the goals inherent in biomedical research that requires high tech laboratories and allows for the site to have maximum flexibility for future development" said Vennie Gore, MSU Vice President for Auxiliary Entrerprises.
Preliminary plans call for space for 36 principal investigator teams, 146,500 gross square feet, five stories, with the Press building demolition commencement beginning in March 2015 and completion of the research center in 2017. A planned second phase could include 12 more principal investigator teams. The Grand Rapids Medical Research Building will allow the CHM to advance its trajectory of NIH-funded research growth.
MSU is still investigating the build out of the remainder of the site with several public/private (p3) partnerships being pursued. According to Vennie Gore, finalized plans and renderings will be unveiled at February's Board of Trustees meeting.
Jeff Hill is the Publisher of Rapid Growth Media
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