LSSU increases South Hall project by $1.5 million

NEWS RELEASE

LAKE SUPERIOR
STATE UNIVERSITY

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LSSU increases South Hall project by $1.5 million

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI - Lake Superior State University’s Board of Trustees voted Monday to increase the university’s South Hall building project to $13.5 million, which is $1.5 million more than the project’s original projected cost.

The additional funds will come from capital already raised by the LSSU Foundation, with no additional funds coming from the state, which has approved $9 million toward the project.

Once completed, the newly refurbished South Hall, renamed R.W. Considine Hall after benefactor Robert Considine of Trout Lake, will house the Lukenda School of Business and will provide state-of-the art facilities for all students on campus.

“We are pleased with the Board of Trustees' approval to move ahead with the project and are looking forward to getting the construction work started,” said LSSU President Tom Pleger. “This project will be a major improvement for the campus and will position the Lukenda School of Business for growth.”

LSSU Vice President of Finance Sherry Brooks said LSSU tried to shave some of the expense from the project in July after bids came back $2 million over budget.

“We went over everything carefully before rebidding the project in October, but it still came back at $1.5 million over budget,” Brooks said, adding that the university could have considered changing the “footprint” of the project, but wanted to keep the building as the donors expected when they were asked to contribute to the project cost.

In addition, major design changes would mean additional costs. She told the board that LSSU’s best option is for the university to proceed with the project and cover the extra costs.

Most of the needed funds will come from money already raised.

The LSSU Foundation brought in $3.6 million in its capital campaign for the building, which was $600,000 more than expected.

In addition, the project budget includes a $700,000 contingency line, some of which may not be needed for the project.

After discussion, the board voted unanimously to approve the increased price of the project.

Board Chair Scot Lindemann said he is eager to see the long-awaited project move forward.

Construction is set to begin this spring and conclude in spring semester 2016.

South Hall, now Considine Hall, is a former Fort Brady barracks that was built in the early 1900s when the U.S. Army moved to this hilltop location from the banks of the St. Marys River.

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