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Students and community members returning to Lake Michigan College's Mendel Center this fall are experiencing revitalized spaces designed for the next generation of performers, along with major indoor climate improvements.
The $2.9 million Phase I Mendel Center HVAC and Interiors Upgrade project, completed over the summer, has increased heating and cooling efficiency and reliability, revitalized spaces last updated 40 or more years ago, and created a welcoming and comfortable environment for students to study the arts.
A total of five air handlers, the systems that heat, cool, and circulate air throughout the building, were replaced – three in Grand Upton Hall, one in the Sizer Band & Choir Rehearsal Studio, and one in the Visual & Performing Arts Department office area.
“This was a significant capital project that required coordinated long-term planning. The old air handlers were original to the building, going back to the 1980s and 1990s. The new units took almost a year to manufacture and were installed just in time for the beginning of the Fall academic semester and events scheduled in the building,” stated Doug Schaffer, LMC Vice President of Advancement & Community Impact & Executive Director, Lake Michigan College Foundation.
Additional Phase I work included interior renovations in the Hanson Theatre lobby, the promenade walkway on the west side of the building, Sizer Band & Choir Rehearsal Studio, and the Visual & Performing Arts Department offices.
Among the improvements are better lighting along with new ceilings, wall coverings, and flooring that replaced worn finishes. An unused ticket booth in the Hanson Theatre lobby that once bottlenecked lobby traffic is gone, replaced by open space where audience members can mingle before curtain.
Worn ceramic lobby tiles have been replaced with smooth flooring, making it easier for students and instructors to move delicate instruments between practice and performance spaces. Improved lighting creates a more inviting atmosphere for pre-show gatherings.
“The Mendel Center is an important community-focused facility that serves thousands of students, residents, and visitors every year with arts programming and education that improves the quality of life in Southwest Michigan,” Schaffer stated. “This investment serves the future of our community.”
Phase II of the Mendel Center HVAC and Interiors Upgrade project will be explored beginning in 2026 with focus on the Jenkins Theatre and surrounding lobbies.
Posted October 28, 2025
