UMCI design approved, construction ramps up

The Board of Regents has approved the schematic design for the University of Michigan Center for Innovation in Detroit, a six-story building expected to open in spring 2027.

The lower floors of the building will contain public-facing programs while the upper floors will be dedicated mostly to graduate programs. The building broke ground in December and preliminary site work has been ongoing.

The regents also authorized the university to proceed with construction, provided that bids are within the project’s $250 million budget.

The first two floors will house public programs, a cafe and shared office space for the U-M Detroit Center, Admissions Office, School of Environment and Sustainability Clinic and others, while levels three through six are planned for multidisciplinary graduate research.

The project broke ground in December at the intersection of Grand River Avenue and West Columbia Street. The proposed 200,000-gross-square-foot building will be the first of three buildings to be constructed on the site, with the other two —an incubator space and a residential building—developed at a future date.

UMCI will be a world-class research, education and entrepreneurship center designed to advance innovation and talent-focused community development to propel city, region and statewide job creation and inclusive economic growth by stimulating economic development in Detroit.

Programming at the innovation center will offer a mixed-model approach that includes both master’s degrees and workforce development programs that will focus on technology and innovation.

“UMCI will bring together the best of the University of Michigan to catalyze economic development in the city of Detroit,” said U-M Provost Laurie McCauley. “It will house a robust portfolio of academic programs, including new interdisciplinary graduate degrees and certificate programs aligned to the skills of the future needed to attract startups as well as major employers to the region.” Continuing reading…