With concourses that were old, dated, and constricted, the University of Michigan’s Crisler Center needed a facelift. Bill Frederick, project architect with TMP Architecture Inc., said though the structure was solid, there just wasn’t the amount of space that is found in newer arenas.

“What we wanted to do was build upon the strong elements of the existing Crisler building,” he said.

TMP’s initial target for the renovation was LEED Silver, something almost mandated by many universities today. Frederick said since obtaining LEED certification is a stringent process, architects try to work in some “cushion points.” Due to these extra points gained through the use of recycled materials, efficient mechanical systems, and the location of materials relative to the university, the project is Gold-certified.

One of the recycled materials used was terrazzo.

More than 50,000 square feet of epoxy terrazzo was installed in the concourse, for stairs from the concourse to the east side of the building and in the east entryway, all in time for basketball season.

Bursting with school pride, the university’s infamous fight song “The Victors,” can be found as water-jet solid zinc letters embedded in the terrazzo. The school’s logo appears in hallways leading to the court.

“With a little bit of maintenance, it will be looking as good 20 years from now at it does today,” Frederick said. “It was a straight-line decision to terrazzo because it had the performance history and the flexibility that we needed to address the design.”

PROJECT NAME: Crisler Center
CLIENT: Regents of the University of Michigan
TERRAZZO CONTRACTOR: Michielutti Bros., Inc.
ARCHITECT: TMP Architecture Inc.
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Spence Brothers
TERRAZZO MATERIAL SUPPLIERS: Terrazzo & Marble Supply Companies  & Continental Terrazzo Supply
DIVIDER STRIP SUPPLIER: National Metal Shapes
PHOTOGRAPHY: Viken Djaferian, FotoGrafix