Bloomfield Hills, Mich., June 4, 2013 — The Crisler Center renovation and expansion project for the University of Michigan was granted LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification from the United States Green Building Council on June 3, 2013. TMP Architecture, Inc. of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, was architect of record, with Denver, Colorado-based Sink Combs Dethlefs serving as associate architect for the project. Spence Brothers Construction of Ann Arbor was the project’s General Contractor.
The Crisler Center at the University of Michigan has served the men’s and women’s basketball programs for over 50 years. In addition to games and practices, the arena, which sits adjacent to Michigan Stadium, also hosts special events and graduation ceremonies.
Additions to the arena total approximately 63,000 square feet. New entrances, club seating, new ticketing areas and retail space are part of the exciting project for the University’s Athletic Department. Phase I of the project included new seating, HVAC, finishes and replacement of the arena’s lighting. A high definition video scoreboard was also installed.
Phase II focused on fan amenities. Expansion of Crisler’s busy concourse area to the East, as well as relocation of restrooms, concessions and the addition of an outdoor plaza enhances the Wolverine fan’s experience. A new enclosed club seating area provides an intimate space for donors and recruits. Crisler’s new “front door” greets visitors with an enclosed escalator and stairway, taking fans to the concourse level.
Sustainable design strategies and concepts that contributed to the project’s LEED Gold Certification included: a high performance building envelope; energy and water efficient measures throughout; glass and glazing/daylighting; contextual, regional materials, as well as materials that provide the optimum indoor air quality.
The decision to renovate and expand the facility rather than build new afforded opportunities for campus community connectivity, public transportation access, maintaining at least 50% of the interior, as well as re-use of the building’s walls, flooring and roof.
TMP has offices in Bloomfield Hills and Portage, Michigan, producing a variety of projects for college/university, K-12 educational and municipal clients. Some of the firm’s current work includes a North Campus Student Center at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, and renovations to Cocke & Cormack Halls at the Virginia Military Institute, Lexington. TMP also recently completed the William Davison Player Development Center at the University of Michigan, a new practice facility connected to the Crisler Center.