Henry Ford College is set to begin a multimillion-dollar construction project at its main campus in Dearborn, MI. With an estimated total cost of $90 million, according to Vice President of Financial, Facilities, IT, and Auxiliary Services John Satkowski, the Southeast Michigan Student Success Center (SEMSSC) is intended to “modernize facilities to better serve future generations of students.”

The new center will be attached to the existing Learning Success Center (building A) and the Eshleman Library (building B), and create a new entrance to the center of the Dearborn campus.

Funding for the project will be coming from multiple sources, including nearly $40 million in bonds to be paid back over 25 years.

Construction is expected to be finished by 2028. The renovations will be carried out in phases to minimize disruption, with key areas of the campus being developed while others remain in use. The administration believes this timeline will ensure that parking will not be affected, classes will continue as scheduled, and essential services will remain operational without significant interruptions.

Two of the oldest buildings on campus will be replaced as a result of this project: buildings K and N. According to Satkowski, it is no longer feasible to continue to maintain these two buildings.

Services that are currently in the N building such as Campus Safety, the Center for Excellence and Innovation (CTEI), the Black Male and QUEENS Focus Group, and faculty offices will be moved to other locations on campus. The specific locations are yet to be determined since the project is still in the planning stages.

Originally built in 1938, the Reuther Liberal Arts Building (building K) will continue to be used for classes until the SEMSSC building is complete. Once classes can be moved to the new SEMSSC building, the old K building will be demolished, leaving much more open space in the middle of campus. Vice President Satkowski states that “Once the K building is rebuilt, it will open up the campus for more outdoor activities, celebrations, and graduations.”

Plans for moving faculty and staff offices and areas such as the Honors Hub that are currently in the K building are being discussed among stakeholders, but no definitive decisions have been made.

The new SEMSSC building will incorporate modern technology and adaptable learning spaces. “Combining these flexible spaces will improve students’ ability to access resources and meet with advisors, counselors, and faculty members as needed, allowing for a more convenient use of space,” Satkowski adds. “This renovation truly marks an exciting step toward creating a vibrant and sustainable campus that meets the needs of Henry Ford College’s community, while offering more opportunities to support extracurricular activities, collaborations, and important school events.”

The Eshleman Library (building B) and Learning Success Center (building A) are expected to go through extensive renovations as well. When it was built, building A was attached to the library but without a way to traverse between buildings without having to go back outside. One of the major changes will be to remove the interior barrier between building A and the library so students and staff can freely move from the inside of one building to the other without having to go outside any longer.

The library will feature updated study areas, improved digital resources, and more variety of learning spaces for students to engage in academic and research activities. Satkowski says the library will become “more than just a place to check out books, but a space where a wider range of services are available to offer assistance.”

Similarly, the Learning Success Center (building A) will be redesigned to better support students’ academic needs, offering enhanced tutoring services and workshops. The Early College will be moving out of the basement of building A to the building attached to the Welcome Center that was recently acquired by Dearborn Public Schools. Moving the Early College will make it possible to bring student services from the Welcome Center, such as student advising, back to central campus, and make it easier for students to get the help they need when and where they need it.

Questions regarding the SEMSSC project can be directed to the office of the Vice President of Financial, Facilities, IT, and Auxiliary Services John Satkowski.