A major facilities upgrade – focused on improving the visitor experience – and the construction of a Michigan State University Basketball Hall of History are on tap for the Breslin Student Events Center.
The MSU Board of Trustees today gave the university the go-ahead to proceed with the $50 million project. $30 million will be provided by the university and $20 million from MSU Athletics.
The work is scheduled to begin in January 2016, with substantial completion expected by August of 2017 and final completion by June 2018.
The university recently conducted a building assessment to identify critical repairs and maintenance, as well as ways in which the visitor experience could be improved.
From that assessment, it was determined that these actions should be addressed: Expanding and upgrading concession areas and concourses; improving bathroom facilities; upgrading passenger and freight elevators; improving exterior entrances and parking lots; and replacing chiller and water connections.
The project also calls for the construction of a 26,000-square-foot addition that will house the MSU Basketball Hall of History. Located on the southeast side of the Breslin Center, the hall will utilize technology to highlight team and individual accomplishments of the men’s and women’s basketball programs. In addition, the technology will have the flexibility to be programmed for other university events.
The Draymond Green Strength and Conditioning Center, accessible from both auxiliary gyms on the mezzanine level, will be constructed below the Hall of History. That area also will include a locker room for former MSU student-athletes currently playing professional basketball to utilize for training during the offseason.
“The opportunity to be involved with a facility project that has a positive and direct impact on our student-athletes and the entire university community is exciting,” said MSU Athletics Director Mark Hollis. “While the Breslin Center project addresses a number of issues related to the building’s operations, it will greatly enhance the experience for those attending any of its events.
“The ability to showcase our university and basketball programs’ history will be one of the key and noticeable features once the project is complete. In addition, former and current student-athletes will have an opportunity to prepare in one of the nation’s finest basketball complexes.”
The Breslin Student Events Center, named in honor of long-time MSU administrator Jack Breslin, first opened its doors in 1989. Every year it hosts more than 200 events, productions, conferences and meetings, as well as serving as home to the MSU men’s and women’s basketball teams.