More than 300 people gathered in Big Rapids, MI May 7 to help officially dedicate Ferris State University’s new Granger Center for Construction and HVACR. The world-class building is home to classes in Ferris’ Construction Technology Management and HVACR programs.
Friends, alumni and industry representatives attended the dedication, along with members of the university and Big Rapids community. Also in attendance were Alton and Janice Granger, whose lead gift helped make the new $18 million facility a reality.
“The industry has been very good to us, and what better way to repay an industry than to help educate its future leaders?” said Alton Granger during remarks before a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The Granger Center’s 45,000-square-foot addition to the former Construction Technology Center gives the Construction Technology Management and HVACR
departments 75,000 square feet of new or renovated space for their programs. The Granger Center features a number of
mechanical systems — including geothermal heating and cooling — that are open to view, making the entire
building a learning facility. Students can trace systems from beginning to end. Four rooms that are study carrels and
student offices also double as “environmental test chambers,” that can be heated and cooled by students to get hands-on experience working with different systems.
In addition to the Grangers, others speaking at the dedication included Ferris President David Eisler, Board of Trustees Chair Bruce Parsons, Interim College of Technology Dean Charles Matrosic, and Board of Trustees member Gary Granger, son of Alton and Janice.
“I believe this is the finest structure of its kind in the country — no, make that the world,” said Eisler.