The construction underway at Lorch Hall is transforming more than the nearly century-old building. Project teams also are building a new heating and cooling system that reaches deep beneath Central Campus.
The geoexchange system will use the relatively stable temperature underground to help efficiently heat and cool the renovated and expanded Lorch Hall, providing a real-world look at how the technology works as U-M puts it into practice as part of its campus energy transition.
Built in 1928, Lorch is undergoing a major renovation and expansion that includes a roughly 90,000-square-foot addition and renovation of approximately 73,000 square feet of existing space. The project will provide updated space for the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts departments of economics and linguistics.
The project also represents a significant investment by LSA in reducing the environmental impact of its facilities. When complete, Lorch is designed to operate all-electric, with a steam connection retained for resiliency.
“At the heart of a liberal arts and sciences education is collaboration to solve challenges, so it is fitting that LSA students, faculty, and staff will learn and work in a facility renovated in ways that creatively reduce energy use and advance the university’s sustainability goals,” said LSA Dean Rosario Ceballo, a professor of psychology, and of women’s and gender studies. “This is an important investment in the future of our college and our campus.”
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