Palmer Commons renovations to open arts doors to more students
Planned renovations to two floors of Palmer Commons will expand access to arts and well-being classes for students on Central Campus, free up needed space on North Campus, and advance universitywide strategic vision goals.
At its March 19 meeting, the Board of Regents approved renovating and upgrading approximately 22,000 gross square feet on the second and third floors of the centrally located Palmer Commons in alignment with Campus Plan 2050 and Look to Michigan goals and priorities.
The project will provide ample space to meet the high demand for creative, arts-based and well-being-oriented courses by expanding flexible instructional and program space.
An artist’s rendering of an open collaboration space in Palmer Commons.
These new classrooms are intended for multiple users across North and Central Campus schools and colleges and will provide space designed to support multidisciplinary teaching and expand access to arts and creative coursework in new areas of campus.
The project reflects collaboration among the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design; the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts; the A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning; the School of Music, Theatre & Dance; and Student Life, and reinforces the Arts Initiative’s commitment to integrating creative practice into the student experience.
“In LSA, we are always eager to expand students’ engagement with the arts; it’s right there in our name,” said Tim McKay, associate dean for undergraduate education at LSA. “For many, a studio art course is the perfect ‘Arts Rx,’ helping improve well-being through creative expression.”
Currently, most arts-based classes are taught on North Campus, but in the last year, there has been an effort to increase offerings for students majoring in non-arts disciplines on Central Campus.
Before the physical renovations to Palmer Commons are complete, the Stamps School will offer studio class options specifically for those students in fall 2026 in the Chemistry and Undergraduate Science Buildings on Central Campus. These studio-based courses include animation, digital photography, graphic design, and watercolor painting, with many of the classes offered in the evenings and on weekends.
“We are proud to offer U-M students the opportunity to experience hands-on, material based learning, while providing an outlet for creative expression. Art and design creation is a practice in mindfulness. These skills honed in these courses can enhance the U-M educational experience,” said Rebecca Strzelec, associate dean for academic programs at the Stamps School.
“There is strong demand for these studio based courses, and we are excited that our incredible faculty have the opportunity to teach in Central Campus spaces to serve more U-M students.”
The project advances U-M’s commitment to Life-Changing Education and Human Health and Well-Being — two of the five Look to Michigan strategic vision impact areas — and addresses critical needs of extensive reinvestment, accommodating growth and ensuring accessibility as part of the Campus Plan 2050 comprehensive physical campus plan.
“At U-M we believe that the arts are for all. This renovation and the spirit of cross-campus collaboration that makes it possible is a win for all students in every degree program and our 250-plus student arts organization are going to love it, too,” said Mark Clague, executive director of the Arts Initiative.
Regents approved approximately $10 million for the renovations from Office of the Provost resources. The architectural firm of SmithGroup will design the project, and a construction schedule is planned to be completed in the spring of 2027.
