SOUTHFIELD A. Alfred Taubman, a former student at Lawrence Technological University, will donate $4 million to help his alma mater build an innovative new Student Services Center.
Groundbreaking for the new Taubman Student Services Center will be later this year. Once built, Lawrence Tech will consolidate all services that support students – from admissions through career services and placement – now spread throughout campus, into a one-stop center. The Center will also utilize much of the latest in energy efficient and environmentally friendly designs and technologies to qualify for the LEED green building certification.
The three-story 38,000 sq. ft. center will cost $9.6 million and sit at the hub of Lawrence Techs 120-acre campus in Southfield. Lead architect is alumnus Art Smith of Harley Ellis. The building will be oriented to maximize day lighting and features a bioswale designed to manage water runoff and utilize vegetation to clean water. Drought-resistant sedum planted on the 13,000 sq. ft. roof will encourage indigenous bird life and help control water run-off. Water not absorbed by roof plantings is treated and used to offset the centers water use for waste disposal.
Water also plays a role in the 80, 300-foot-deep geothermal wells to aid cooling and heating. These wells will be represented by a symbolic garden of light, a low voltage light array recharged by photovoltaic cells. Environmentally friendly insulation provides comfort without sacrificing indoor air quality. Chambers said the building will be rigorously evaluated to meet a level of sustainable design set by the Green Building Council of which the University is a member.
Just as Mr. Taubman redefined the shopping experience for millions of Americans through innovative merchandising and retail design, our new Student Services Center will redefine the student experience at Lawrence Tech, said Lawrence Tech President Charles Chambers.
Taubman, who studied architecture at Lawrence Tech in the evenings while running his real estate business during the day, was the type of student the new center is designed to help, Chambers said.
As we have expanded on-campus housing opportunities and enhanced student counseling and social opportunities in recent years, weve already seen increases in retention and graduation rates. Many of these helpful services will be consolidated in this new building where cross-trained staff will be able to meet student needs in a more seamless way.
The Taubman Student Services Center is a component of the Universitys $32 million capital campaign that was publicly launched in 2001.
