Bio-tech bloat
CMU should consider abandoning its plans to build a $65 million bio-technology building next to the Education and Human Services building.
The proposal, which was excluded from the approximately $200 million in state-shared funding that Gov. Jennifer Granholm approved Sept. 29, sounds like overkill just to support the newly-approved medical school.
Realistically, CMU could propose the project again when the state conducts another round of capital outlay project requests as soon as next year. Rep. Bill Caul, R-Mount Pleasant, heavily supports the idea and said he will try to put the project "at the top of the list."
But does this university really need a whole new building - especially halfway across the campus - to support the medical school? The bio-technology building was not even part of the original medical school plan when the Board of Trustees approved it on Sept. 18.
What was included on the plan was the construction of a $1.5 million wing to the Health Professions Building, which could suffice.
Many faculty in the College of Health Professions are expecting to play an indirect role with the medical school once it opens in 2011. If that's the case, constructing the bio-technology building that far from the Health Professions Building sounds inconvenient.
Furthermore, state appropriations alone would not cover the cost of the bio-technology building.
If it is approved next year or later, CMU still would have to provide $25 million, plus pay $500,000 to demolish the Washington Apartments that currently stand on each side of the education building.
Many people already questioned the funds the university could spend on the medical school, but few foresaw the extra money it might take for the university to support it with another building.
The building also would be a large burden on the state of Michigan, whose economy is too feeble to support many of CMU's lofty ambitions.
The administration should better consider its options when it comes to the bio-technology building. The approved medical school needs space, for sure, but with an extra wing to the Health Professions Building in the works, is it necessary to spend millions more on a whole new building?
