Two more projects are extending a building splurge that is transforming the look of the Wayne State University.

Building trades workers have been permanent visitors on the campus for most of the 1990s, putting up hundreds of millions of dollars worth of new construction. Authorization to spend an additional $132 million was granted last year by the WSU Board of Governors, and Hardhats are glad to keep coming back, tools in hand.
Three on the largest projects currently on the campus are a $15.6 million addition to the Law School, a new $69 million College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions that was topped out earlier this month, and a new $14 million fitness center that's nearly complete.

"This is a milestone we are very proud to celebrate," said WSU President Irvin Reid of the pharmacy building. "When this building is completed, it will rank among the nation's finest health care education facilities, with the latest technology and high-tech teaching tools available to our faculty to provide the best possible education for the health-care leaders of tomorrow."

The six-story, 270,000 square-foot educational and research complex will open for the fall term in 2002. It will be located at John R and Mack, at the gateway of the city's academic medical center. The facility will replace the overcrowded and outdated Shapero Hall. More than 900 students attend the school.

Constructed by union building trades, the project is being managed by the team of Turner/Brinker/Capital Construction companies.

The fitness center is nearly ready for action, and is scheduled to be open next month. The building will feature a two-court gymnasium, a suspended walking/jogging track, a rock-climbing wall and a leisure pool. Students, faculty and staff will be able to take advantage of the new facility which Reid said will "establish better working relationships on campus and create more of a sense of community" at what is essentially a commuter school.

"The work has been good and we're on schedule," said Turner Project Supt. Duncan Wilson. He added with a smile, "we're one big happy family."

The 56,000-square-foot law school addition will house various student service departments, seminar rooms, moot and trial courtrooms, a publications office, a multi-media distance learning classroom and additional faculty offices.

The highlight of the building will be a 250-seat auditorium that will double as a courtroom complete with judge's chambers and a jury room. The auditorium will become the focal point for the Law School's instructional and public outreach activities. Building completion is slated for August.

Included in the overall $15.6 million project are improvements to the current three-story building, including expansion of the law library collections to the lower level and renovation of administrative and faculty offices. That work is set for completion by the end of the year.

The current law library and classroom buildings at the site will be connected to the new building by enclosed bridges. Other major projects that were completed during the 1990s building binge on the WSU campus were the new undergraduate library and the renovation of the landmark Old Main building.

PAINTER Melvin Redd dips a brush in the gym at the WSU Fitness Center.

TILE LAYERS Mark Austin and Paul Casciani of Local 32 work in the pool area of the Wayne State Fitness Center.