MSU to Invest $50M to Renovate, Expand Breslin Events Center

2222

Michigan State University in East Lansing is investing $50 million to renovate and expand its Breslin Student Events Center, which is home to the university’s men’s and women’s basketball teams.

The project will include the addition of a recruiting lounge, strength and conditioning space, an exterior plaza outside the center’s athletic facilities, and a new, 26,000-square-foot Basketball Hall of History, which will be built at the southeast side of the arena.

The hall will feature integrated interactive programmable displays that highlight the university’s athletic accomplishments as well as information about MSU events. Detroit-based architectural firm Rossetti is overseeing the design, while Southfield-based Barton Malow will lead the construction.

“Our basketball tradition here is so rich, so (the hall) will be perfect for showing that to our fans, alumni, and recruits,” says Tom Izzo, head coach of the men’s basketball team. “And the technology in the displays is really flexible (and) changes can be made so the displays are always current.”

In 2001, Breslin Center underwent its first expansion, which added two, 8,000-square-foot auxiliary gyms and new office space for the basketball teams. The new project marks the center’s second renovation and expansion.

“What’s so exciting to me about these renovations is that there’s really something for everyone,” Izzo says. “Current student-athletes (will) get to experience the new weight room, former players will have a locker room reserved just for them, and then the whole package will be really exciting for our recruits.”

The first phase of the project will be completed by October, which is the beginning of the college basketball season. The second phase will be finished by October 2017.