Two unusual-looking structures are being erected across Washtenaw Avenue
from the Palmer Drive Development project site, next to the Central Campus
Recreation Building. These two structures are mock-up walls for the Life
Sciences Institute and the Commons Building.
The mock-up walls are a combination of wall design elements from several
of the new buildings' facades. These are temporary structures that will
be removed. The walls do not represent the true final appearance of the
buildings, but they do include all the materials that will make up the
facades. They are being erected to confirm the design and construction
details, including assembly and weatherproofing, before the processes
are fully implemented on the new buildings. The mock-up process is similar
to building a prototype before the actual construction or manufacture
of any product. One of the purposes is to save time and money by identifying
any concerns or issues in a small trial before they are encountered on
the actual construction project.
This process will add to the quality of the finished buildings. Each
building on campus is planned to last for 75 to 100 years. It is prudent
to spend appropriate time and money in the beginning to ensure the building
quality supports such a vision.
Construction
Mock-ups