Demolition date set for former Grand Rapids Press building

Demolition allows MSU to build a facility that best achieves the goals inherent in biomedical research -- Vennie Gore

EAST LANSING, MI. The former Grand Rapids Press building will be demolished next spring, making room for a new Grand Rapids Biomedical Research Center on a portion of the site at 155 Michigan Street NE.

The $3 million demolition plan was approved on Friday, Dec. 12, by the Michigan State University Board of Trustees. The university, which operates the College of Human Medicines Secchia Center just up the Michigan Street hill, acquired the property from the Press owners in 2012.

Demolition allows MSU to build a facility that best achieves the goals inherent in biomedical research that requires high-tech laboratories and allows for the site to have maximum flexibility for future development, said Vennie Gore, MSU vice president for auxiliary enterprises, in a statement. RELATED: MSU to replace old Grand Rapids Press building with state-of-the-art labs

The building to be razed is 173,384 square feet on a site of approximately 4.3 acres. It was built in 1966 and served as the Press headquarters until 2012. Demolition is scheduled to begin in March 2015, with final completion of demolition by December 2015.

Pending approvals, the new Grand Rapids Biomedical Research Center is planned to open late 2017.

At a future MSU Board of Trustees meeting this winter, the MSU administration plans to recommend construction of the Grand Rapids Biomedical Research Center on a portion of this site. The remainder of the site may be divided into parcels for future development by the university and/or private developers.

Last April, Dick Temple, architect and project manager for MSU's College of Human Medicine, said officials are planning for a 145,000-square-foot building that will be five or six stories tall. He said the Grand Rapids Research Center's design will reflect a gateway to both the Medical Mile and the North Monroe neighborhood.

Funding will be provided through the universitys general fund and tax-exempt financing with debt repayment from a variety of sources including the general fund. RELATED: MSU plans to demolish former Grand Rapids Press headquarters to build biomedical research center

Jim Harger covers business for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email him at jharger@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter or Facebook or Google+.

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Demolition date set for former Grand Rapids Press building