ANN ARBOR—Projects to build a new indoor football practice facility and new soccer fields were approved today (April 19) by the University of Michigan Board of Regents. The new football building is expected to be built adjacent to Schembechler Hall along State Street, while the new soccer fields will be constructed near the Tisch Varsity Tennis Center.

“This is just a part of the many facility projects we have undertaken and will undertake in the future,” said Bill Martin, the Donald R. Shepherd Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. “This is a continuing process as we need to update the facilities on our athletic campus to today’s standards.”

The new football facility, approximately 104,000 gross square feet to be built on an existing outdoor practice field, is expected to include a full-size football field, lobby, restrooms and storage space. Approximately 3,000 gross square feet of space in Schembechler Hall will be renovated as part of the project. Once the new building is constructed, Oosterbaan Field House, the current indoor football practice facility, will be used for practice by other varsity intercollegiate athletic teams as well as additional intramural events. In addition, 20 new parking spaces will be created.

The regents also approved the appointment of Jickling Lyman Powell Associates as the design architect. Athletic resources and gifts will fund the $26.1 million project budget. The construction schedule will be presented to the regents when approval is sought for the schematic design.

A regulation, lighted, competition soccer field and two practice fields will be built west of the tennis complex on South State Street. The relocation of the men’s and women’s soccer events will allow the current U-M Soccer Field to be reassigned as an outdoor football practice field. The landscape architectural firm of JJR will design the new soccer fields. Athletic Department resources will fund the estimated $2 million project budget.