The following text is taken from page 77 of the "North Campus Buildings" section from The University of Michigan, an encyclopedic survey ... Wilfred B. Shaw, editor: The Computing Center at 1075 Beal Avenue was
completed by the E. E. Kurtz Construction Company of Ann Arbor at a
cost of $1,300,000. Construction began in October of 1969 and was
completed in April of 1971. The project was funded by University sources
and private gifts. It houses a large computer facility for academic
teaching and research functions. Tarapata, MacMahon, Associates designed
this three-story building to provide both reliable environmental
controls and flexibility in use of space. Elevated "false" floors,
raised approximately two feet from the actual floor, form a reservoir
for distributing air through the total building thus eliminating
conventional ductwork in a facility that would equal the capacity needed
to air-condition 40 to 50 homes. This feature also permits readily
accessible storage areas for computer cables and electrical and
telephone lines serving the building. It is "ready-made" for expansion
of the rapidly growing computer field. The University Computing Center,
first established in 1959, has had a fantastic growth which is expected
to continue. Long-span construction was used throughout the entire
building. Since the walls and unusual beams are weight-bearing, the
interior space is entirely free of support columns and was completed
with easily movable interior partitions to facilitate space relocation.
Computer components are located on all three floors to eliminate
transmission lag. Elevator, mechanical, and electrical service areas are
masonry cores placed at the sides of the building. The first floor is
primarily a public service area, seminar rooms, and key punching and
terminal rooms. On the second floor is the main computer room and
adjacent open-office work areas, while the third floor houses
computer-systems research areas, a library, and administrative offices. Proposal to the U.S. Office of Education to request funding for a
portion of the cost of constructing "A Computing Center Building"
at the University of Michigan, January 1969. Includes a description of
existing computing facilities at UM, including several photographs of
the
North University Building, plans and costs for the new building, which
show a "drive-up window" and a basement that were not included in the
building that was actually built.
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