Things are happening at Oosterbaan

Submitted by Maizen on

I have no idea how this is going to look when finished. I'm surprised renderings haven't been made public yet. Usually those have to get approval from the regents before construction begins, especially for something with a 21 million dollar price tag. Slightly confused why they didn't just tear the whole thing down, or maybe they are? Maybe UMBig11 knows more.

Maizen

June 17th, 2017 at 6:20 PM ^

Correct to an extent, but all those sports that used Oosterbaan are now displaced because of the shorter field. The new weight room is taking up 32,000 sq feet with a 5,000 sq foot mezzanine level. There won't be much field left.

The project, which was passed unanimously by the Board of Regents, did not come without some opposition. UM club sports students represented by men's rugby team President Nate Fisher voiced concern that their sports are going to be impacted by the decreased space in Oosterbaan, due to the construction of the weight room.

Fisher said he spoke with the athletic department about his concerns, noting that one-third of UM's club sports teams use Oosterbaan for practices, scrimmages and games.

Oosterbaan Field House, which was constructed in 1980, also serves as the indoor playing field for the UM lacrosse team.

"Athletic administrators were gracious enough to meet with us and provide details about the project," Fisher said. "We appreciate that they feel their plans will provide our teams with a suitable alternative to what we are losing in Oosterbaan, but the reality is that the impact on our community will be significant."

ThadMattasagoblin

June 17th, 2017 at 10:33 PM ^

The fact that you don't need a regulation field to practice. If they take the whole thing down, they have nowhere to practice whereas now they still have a place to do drills etc. during the winter. Also harbaugh might want the second shorter field to do workouts or practices on.

Maizen

June 17th, 2017 at 11:55 PM ^

They could take the whole thing down and still build a space for a shorter field attatched to the new facility. As it is all the sports who used the entire field like lacrosse, rugby, club soccer etc are now going to have to find someplace else. If Harbaugh wants to practice indoors they use the Glick. My point was why confine your renovation to the dated and existing architecture of Oosterbaan. Since no plans have been released we'll have to see what they do. $21 million is a pretty penny so I'm expecting it to be really nice.

FL_Steve

June 17th, 2017 at 7:05 PM ^

God is that going to be great. I want to be reincarnated when I die, just so I can go to college all over again with all these renovations. Sigh.

jeepnut

June 18th, 2017 at 8:42 PM ^

They're not tearing the whole thing down. The new roof is going on as we speak. A little over half the facility we remain as it was before, an indoor practice space for the various sports that need it. Where you see the blown out wall, glass doors go in that can open to the practice field. New lighting gets installed throughout.



Also as part of this project, they are installing permanent film towers at the practice field so they don't have to use scissor lifts anymore. Less risk of them blowing over in a strong wind.

Maizen

June 19th, 2017 at 4:09 PM ^

I don't see how this is going to cost anywhere close to $21 million if that is the case. Moreover, the new facility is supposed to have a second level. The roof in Oosterbaan as it is currently is too low to support a 2nd level. I'm still surprised renderings haven't been made public.