Higher Education Spending in Michigan
What can trades and design professionals learn from college and university building plans?
Each fall, the Michigan Office of the State Budget invites all of Michigan’s 44 publicly funded community colleges and universities to submit a capital outlay request for state cost participation in new building and renovation projects. Schools submit their list of priority capital outlay projects (often referred to as project “wish lists”) and in December of each year, the Budget Office compiles the projects and sends them to the legislature for debate and possible inclusion in the next fiscal year’s higher education expenditure budget.
Proposed Projects for FY 2011
Listed below are the top priority capital outlay requests for FY 2011 for several SE Michigan schools:
Washtenaw Community College
- Occupational Educational Building Renovations
- Advanced Manufacturing Building
Macomb Community College
- Phase II of Health Science and Technology Building
Oakland Community College
- Orchard Ridge Campus, Building J Upgrades/Renovations
Schoolcraft College
- Simulation Technology Center
Oakland University
- Engineering Center
Eastern Michigan University
- Strong Hall Renovations
- Integrated Arts, Communication and Applied Technology Village
UM – Flint
- Murchie Science Laboratory Renovation
UM – Ann Arbor
- GG Brown Addition and Renovation
UM – Dearborn (from FY 2010 request)
- Science Building renovation and Computer Information Science Building renovation
What’s in it For Us?
These design and construction projects employ many trades and engineering and architecture professionals. Construction costs for the above projects are estimated to be $439,300,000. Higher education spending is critical for the continued health of Michigan’s economy. Clearly state colleges and universities are looking to renovate and design new science and technology buildings. Higher education appears headed in that direction along with the state of Michigan’s economy.
What this means to trades and professional services providers is that we need to brush up on our qualifications packages for these types of projects. SOQ’s need to be written or improved showing off science and technology projects. We need to show these clients how we can best serve their needs in the design and construction of science and technology buildings.