The U-M Board of Regents has approved the architectural plans for a major, cutting-edge redesign and buildout of the LSA Building to house the new LSA Opportunity Hub and collaborative space for the LSA community. The Hub will provide active learning experiences for LSA students—including internships, alumni and employer engagement, mentoring, and networking—that will give them an advantage to thrive in their aspirations and their lives after college.

The plans, designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson and Smithgroup JJR, will change the face of U-M’s central campus and create a front door to the College of LSA. Last September, the regents approved the initial proposal to renovate the LSA Building in order to house the LSA Opportunity Hub.

“I am thrilled that the regents have approved the redesign of the LSA Building, which will be a home for LSA students and the Opportunity Hub,” says LSA Dean Andrew D. Martin. “The Hub will become an integral part of students’ experiences at the College from the moment they arrive on campus.”

The entrance to the revitalized LSA Building will feature a two-story glass entrance, leading into the LSA Opportunity Hub on the first floor. The Hub will also include a bright, glass-enclosed multipurpose room that will provide a state-of-the-art space for the LSA community, including alumni and employers who wish to connect and network with LSA students.

Twelve interview rooms will also be available for one-on-one conversation, meetings, and networking interactions, along with numerous small, quiet study nooks and larger collaborative meeting areas. There will also be separate private areas—complete with wifi and printing capabilities—for employers’ convenience between appointments and meetings with students. The Hub will also contain a classroom for applied liberal arts courses, where students can learn how to prepare for an internship, how to effectively articulate their skills and competences, and how to engage in career exploration.

“When completed, this will be a dynamic new space designed to help students pursue vital experiences outside of the classroom and to connect those experiences with their coursework and their lives after college,” says Paula Wishart, assistant dean of student development and career initiatives for the LSA Opportunity Hub.

The Hub is already offering services to students on the first floor of the LSA Building, with a focus on helping them pursue internship opportunities, find funding, and connect with alumni. Groundbreaking on the new space is scheduled for October 2017, with an expected opening in fall 2019.