Serving the Michigan Rowing Association
The Michigan Rowing Association (MRA), powered by the enthusiasm of over 1,000 members, serves as a guiding light for the University of Michigan’s men’s rowing team. Its mission is to foster an environment where athletes can flourish, train, and represent their alma mater with pride in intense intercollegiate competitions.
The MRA faced a significant challenge: its existing facility was unable to accommodate the increasing number of athletes joining the program. The limited space impeded operations, alumni events, recruitment efforts, and training activities. The expanding team necessitated the search for a more suitable space that could attract and accommodate the program’s growth while remaining close to the Huron River.
Plante Moran Realpoint (PMR) worked to understand the MRA’s long-term goals and evaluate a variety of real estate options.
Sprinting to the finish line
After a thorough search of the market, PMR successfully identified the ideal location that fulfilled the MRA’s capacity and proximity requirements. PMR helped negotiate a lease on 7,000 square feet on the second floor and offered project management of the build-out. MRA officially took the step to purchase the entire building the next year, creating a real estate investment for the nonprofit organization. As a full-service real estate consulting firm, PMR was able to assist MRA with the transaction and the purchase successful closed in April 2024.
The 1940s-era building on North Main Street in Ann Arbor, Mich., allows space for 75 rowing machines, locker rooms for the athletes, and offices for all coaching staff. Because the team is now located on the Huron River, rowers will have easy access for boat launches and outdoor space to hold seasonal regattas, bringing in additional rowing clubs from around the country.
Built to point the way
Our real estate advice is always grounded by our clients’ needs. Our ability to offer a comprehensive suite of real estate services to MRA — from site selection and lease negotiation to acquisition and project management — meant MRA had all the resources in one team to find a new space that works functionally for its operations and accommodates its growing team.
