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HOUGHTON - It is known as the UPPCO building, but soon, Michigan Technological University's newly acquired building on Houghton's downtown waterfront will have a different name.

"We asked the campus to suggest names," said Ellen Horsch, Tech's vice president for administration.

Currently the names are with President Glenn Mroz, who will recommend one to the university's Board of Control.

The building was purchased by Tech last July and is unique in that it joins the handful of other university off-campus sites and will continue to house current occupants of the building that include the Upper Peninsula Power Company, Ford and Gundlach Champion, Inc.

A renovation of the building will begin in May and include upgrading the heating, ventilating and air conditioning, repairing leaks around the windows and building enclosed spaces for tenants. Green features will also be added, such as low-flow toilets and energy-efficient lighting, Horsch said.

Horsch's office is the first Tech office to move to the site, but plans call for it to be joined by human resources, the budget office, sponsored programs and others by the fall.

Horsch said she does not mind being off campus.

"I like it, I'm a busy person in the sense that I don't sit still, so I don't mind traveling to campus," she said. "You go to any other campus and this would be a quick walk."

Already she notices herself spending more time downtown and is excited that other Tech employees may do the same once they make the move.

"I think it's going to help the downtown area," she said. "Not that everyone is going to eat lunch out everyday, but I know I'm doing it more."

Layla Aslani can be reached at laslani@mininggazette.com.