ANN ARBOR—University of Michigan Regents, at their March 20 meeting, approved these renovation projects:

• “Most of the Central Heating Plant’s equipment and circuits being replaced are at least 50 years old, and are at the end of their normal useful lives,” said U-M Executive Vice President Robert Kasdin. “The project will replace a 2,400 volt fused switch, two 2,400-480 volt station power transformers, two sets of 480 volt switchgear, a 480 volt bus duct, seven motor starters, and several power circuits with new equipment and circuits having higher capacity.” The project is estimated to cost $800,000.
• The basement, first, second, 11th and 12th floors of the Dennison Building will undergo renewal improvements with new fire protection sprinklers installed, at an estimated cost of $1.7 million. “To meet the requirements of current, applicable fire protection codes, this 12-story building must be completely equipped with fire protection sprinklers and water supply with a fire pump,” Kasdin noted. “During the past six years, the building has undergone several phases of classroom and corridor renovations. Floors three to ten have been renewed with new ceilings, new light fixtures, temperature controls, data cables and fire protection sprinkler piping.”
• “The buildings on the east side of the Diag, particularly Randall Lab and Dana Building, have recently flooded during heavy rains. In addition, the Palmer Drive area also floods during heavy rains. The storm water piping systems are undersized. 
• “Several options have been studied to correct the problem. An analysis of costs, construction requirements, energy usage, and disruption of other services in the area indicates the most feasible and cost effective option is to expand storm water pipe capacity north of the East University Plaza area; construct a pump storage basin under the parking deck to be built behind the Power Plant. The storage basin will require approximately 140,000 cubic feet to store water from peak conditions. As the storm water subsides in the piping systems, the basin will be slowly pumped into the existing pipe underneath Glen Avenue.” The system will enhance our storm water management efforts by providing for sedimentation and we are examining potential uses for the collected water. The project is estimate to cost $2.9 million.
• Some 5,200 gross square feet of laboratory space on the second floor of the Kraus Natural Sciences Building will be reconfigured, at an estimated cost of $1.2 million. The project area will include a large research laboratory space, a chemical prep room, equipment room, microscope room, a cold room, a faculty office and journal storage/reading space.
• “As part of a program to renew outdated classrooms in the Law School, we propose to renovate Classroom 220 in Hutchins Hall. The project, at an estimated cost of $650,000, will target both appearance and function, addressing codes, accessibility, acoustics, technology and seating. Improvements will be made to portions of the mechanical, electrical and life safety systems. This project is unusually difficult renovation as it requires bringing the room up to modern classroom standards while respecting the historically and architecturally significant design of the building.”
• The Parking Services’ annual safety, maintenance, and repairs program for year 2000 will include several major projects and minor improvements to several smaller parking lots, annual maintenance to parking decks, and lighting and landscaping improvements, at an estimated cost of $3.3 million. Major projects include the resurfacing of the School of Music surface lot; repairing pavement at several loading and service areas; paving the Wall Street parking lot; and rebuilding and repaving parking lots at G.G. Brown and Space Research.