
West Hall Innovation Center Project Updates
The West Hall 21st Century Innovation Center project combines state investments of more than $7 million for important renovations and modernizations of the 50-year-old West Hall building with NMC-funded investments of more than $7 million to create a 54,000-square-foot, multi-story library and flexible learning space. It will incorporate innovative and transformative learning environments and multiple academic and simulation spaces.
The project has received extensive campus and community input, including 270 comments during a campus-wide opening conference and 17 user group workshops. It also won the support of state legislators including Sen. Darwin Booher, R-Evart, and Sen. Wayne Schmidt, R-Traverse City.
Learn more about the project here:
- February 11, 2016: West Hall highly ranked among governor's capital outlay recommendations »
- July 14, 2017: Governor Signs State Budget, Including NMC Priorities »
- June 9, 2016: Michigan Legislature Approves Multi Million Dollar Innovation Center for NMC »
- June 22, 2017: NMC earns final approval for 21st Century Innovation Center from Michigan Legislature »
- April 23, 2018: West Hall Innovation Center and Library Update Board of Trustees Presentation (PDF) »
- August 9, 2018: NMC to use renewable energy source for new Innovation Center »
- September 24, 2018: NMC celebrates two building milestones - West Hall Innovation Center groundbreaking and rededication of the Shirley S. Okerstrom Fine Arts Building »
Department, office and service moves
While construction of the Innovation Center is underway, departments and services that were in West Hall have moved:
- Academic Scheduling to Beckett Room JB 110
- Administrative Services Coordinator Cathy McCall to Tanis Room T 55
- Apartment Management to Biederman Room LB 104
- Bookstore to Health & Science Building Room HS 101
- Central Scheduling to Beckett Room JB 107
- Childcare to Physical Education Center Room P 206
- Dining Services to the Oleson Center
- International Services to Scholars Hall Room SH 29
- Student ID Cards to Tanis Room T 141
- Student Life to Osterlin Room O 152
- Tutoring Center to Osterlin Room O 210
- Veterans Lounge to Osterlin Room O 103
- Vice President of Finance Vicki Cook to Tanis Room T 55
- WNMC to Scholars Hall Rooms SH 31–SH 32
Please send any changes or additions to this list to publicrelations@nmc.edu.

View a gallery of project renderings and floor plans »
View more project galleries »
View the updated campus map »
Project Timeline
- June 8, 2016 - The state legislature passes the state’s general government omnibus budget bill for FY 2016-17, which includes more than seven million dollars for the West Hall Innovation Center
- June 22, 2017 - The project receives final funding approval as part of the state legislature’s FY18 Omnibus Budget
- Fall 2017–Spring 2018 - The project steering committee meets with the architect to finalize the interior
- Summer 2018 - Offices and services move to temporary locations (view the map)
- Summer 2018 - Abatement and re-routing of electrical power and fiber optic cables
- September 24, 2018 - Groundbreaking ceremony
- September 2018 - Demolition of the old West Hall building begins
- October 2018 - Building demolition complete
- Fall 2018–2019 - Construction of the new West Hall Innovation Center
- November 2018 - New building foundation begins
- December 2018 - Deep pile foundation installation completed, sub-base material installed
- January 2019 - Structural concrete foundation installation
- February 2019 - $2.3 million in roofing, wall, flooring, painting, fire suppression and other project bids approved
- March 2019 - Masonry at East Stairwell, foundation grade beam installation, underground plumbing
- April 2019 - Install structural steel, waterproof and backfill foundation walls
- May 2019 - Connect water main, construct elevator shaft, install metal decking on steel, structural steel erection continues
- June 2019 - Exterior and interior wall framing, window and wall blocking, sanitary lines tie-in, steel erection continues
- July 2019 - Concrete work mostly complete; wall framing, electrical work and geothermal well drilling being done; audiovisual and IT cabling contracts approved.
- August 2019 - Geothermal well installation, water main installation, interior and exterior rough wall construction, basement access floors, curtain wall installation and glass delivery for the south elevation
- September 2019 - Prepped and poured floors, started drywall, installed glass on south elevation, installed window framing on north library wall and east stairwell window, finished geothermal well installation, started framing walls and roofing, roughing in mechanical, electrical and plumbing
- October 2019 - Brick and exterior panel installation, glass and sunshade installation, poured sidewalks on north, east and south sides, interior framing, drywall on all three floors, paint on second floor
- Early Spring 2020 - Projected completion (final dates and occupancy are determined after the construction manager and general contractor review the final timeline)
In the News
NMC Innovation Center moving forward
Eight bids approved by Board of Trustees
TRAVERSE CITY RECORD-EAGLE
February 27, 2019
Bids approved for NMC's Innovation Center
Project set for spring 2020 completion
TRAVERSE CITY RECORD-EAGLE
November 21, 2018
NMC recognizes old, new buildings on campus
UPNORTHLIVE.COM
September 25, 2018
NMC Breaks Ground on $14 Million West Hall Innovation Center Project
9&10 NEWS
September 24, 2018
NMC To Host Public Ceremonies For Building Projects
THE TICKER
September 14, 2018
NMC To Use Geothermal Energy To Power New Innovation Center
THE TICKER
August 10, 2018
TRAVERSE CITY RECORD-EAGLE
May 24, 2018
NMC project to redo West Hall slated to start this spring
TRAVERSE CITY RECORD-EAGLE
March 6, 2018
NMC to revamp West Hall
College lays groundwork for new library, innovation center to open fall 2019
TRAVERSE CITY RECORD-EAGLE
September 29, 2017
NMC to Construct 21st Century Innovation Center
MYNORTH
June 27, 2017
NMC To Host Public Ceremonies For Building Projects
THE TICKER
June 10, 2016
State Approves Millions In Funding For NMC Expansion
THE TICKER
June 10, 2016