Northern Michigan University Marketing Manager Marina Dupler gives a tour of Phase I renovation of The Northern Center on Tuesday. The facility was formerly known as the University Center. (Journal photo by Christie Bleck)

MARQUETTE — The community got a chance to view the Phase I renovation of The Northern Center — formerly known as the University Center — on Tuesday, with public tours given of the Northern Michigan University facility.

The University Center had been a popular campus hub, with its Great Lakes conference rooms and the NMU Bookstore, among other places.

The Northern Center is expected to include many improvements.

NMU Marketing Manager Marina Dupler showed tour participants some of the new facility’s main attractions, one of which was the parking lot, where upgrades are underway.

The lot, she said, will include islands in the middle for a better configuration.

“If you’ve ever attended an event in the winter here, the parking can get a little wonky and sometimes people will find themselves parked in,” Dupler said.

Participants also saw the Grand Ballroom, a service corridor, new restrooms and the new NMU Bookstore, among other spots.

The Northern Center will feature new audiovisual technology, including 10-by-16-foot large-format screens, built-in projectors, Wi-Fi throughout the facility, wireless connections and assistive listening device capability.

The project’s budget, according to the NMU website at nmu.edu/facilities/university-center-renovations, is $22.325 million.

Landscaping enhancements at and near the parking lot will be completed in phases, starting with the restoration of the Carillon Towers, an NMU news release said. Crews will install new benches, plant flowers around the towers and trim select trees that are encroaching on the site.

Phase II work on The Northern Center, which involves additional meeting rooms and gathering spaces, a new quick service restaurant and a student activity zone, will continue through the summer.

The project is expected to be completed the second week of September, with a dedication scheduled during Homecoming week.

Dupler said a new outside facade will be part of Phase II, and the Great Lakes rooms still will serve as meeting spaces but only without a long corridor.

Events may be booked at The Northern Center beginning in June, with banquet-style seating for up to 1,000 people. For more information, visit nmu.edu/northerncenter or contact Elizabeth Peterson, NMU sales manager of catering/events, at elpeters@nmu.edu, or the sales office at 906-227-2623.

Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250.