Board of Trustees approve second CMED facility in Saginaw
Phase 2 of the construction of the College of Medicine's Saginaw location was approved unanimously Thursday by Central Michigan University's Board of Trustees.
The $12 million project is planned to provide education to third and fourth-year students and has been a part of the CMED plan since 2012. Scheduled to begin construction in spring of 2015 and will be added to the St. Mary's of Michigan hospital and connect to the facility's Health Education Center.
"We knew when we approved the CMED plan the first two years students would be here, and they needed facilities ready for their continued education," said Trustee Brian Fannon before the vote. "We have to get going on this second (building) by the spring. The window is here, and I think the we should give the authority to get it done."
Before the vote, Trustee William Kanine expressed that while the plan "still has some what-ifs," it needs to get get going as soon as possible to coincide with the arrival of CMED students.
The board authorized CMU President George Ross to spend up to $12 million on the project.
In July 2013, trustees authorized the construction of a Phase I building and renovation project at Covenant HealthCare. The Covenant project is slated to be complete in May.
Ross said costs for Phase I construction are $8 million less than original prices.
Both St. Mary’s of Michigan and Covenant have partnered with CMU to provide clinical experience for students in the final two years of their CMU Doctor of Medicine program. The two construction projects were projected to cost $45 million; actual costs now are estimated at $37 million.
Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of Facilities Management, said bid pricing has been more expensive in recent years because of the consolidation of construction companies. Many companies are unable to bid on as many projects as the demand for work has made them busier.
The single story, 17,100 square foot building is scheduled for completion in April 2015, although it wont be until July of that year before faculty and equipment will be moved in.
The building will provide resources for students to engage in important clinical experience, as well as space for internal medicine practice, senior services and neuroscience facilities.
There are also plans to remodel an existing auditorium in St. Mary's Health Education Center and two classrooms in July 2015.
The inaugural class will contain 64 students. There will be 168 students using the facility the following year.
