The University of Memphis will be revisiting its plans for a new recreation center after deciding the current estimate was too expensive, according to a campus-wide email sent out Sunday afternoon by U of M president M. David Rudd. The date for construction has been pushed back 18 months.
“Costs for the project ballooned to well over $60M, exceeding the boundaries of the original financial model,†the email read. “To date, the student fee supporting the land bridge and recreation center has generated well below projections, an estimated $15M.†Â
In June 2014, the Tennessee Board of Regents voted to increase student fees at the U of M by $307 per year. Â These funds were designated to build the new recreation center and pedestrian bridge. Construction the new center was set to begin this semester.Â
The email also announced that the university will be moving forward with construction on the proposed pedestrian bridge and parking garage as soon as possible.
