Original Construction
1928
Completion Date
2001
Awards
Special Award of Merit Ann Arbor Historic District Commission
National Register Listed

The Michigan Theater is a significant example of American cinema architecture, distinguished by its Romanesque design and elaborate historic detailing. Following its original construction, the theater underwent a modernization in 1956, followed by substantial mechanical, electrical, and physical improvements during a major restoration approximately three decades later. In 1982, Preservation Urban Design, Inc. (PUDI) prepared a restoration Master Plan that evaluated the building’s existing conditions, established preservation priorities, and developed cost estimates for implementation. This planning laid the groundwork for subsequent restoration efforts to preserve the theater’s architectural character while improving its safety and functionality.

The firm’s involvement spanned multiple phases of restoration, beginning with Eugene C. Hopkins, FAIA, then with PUDI and later a principal at HopkinsBurns, overseeing the implementation of Phase I, which focused primarily on life-safety improvements. In 1997, HopkinsBurns, operating as Architects Four, began collaborating with the Michigan Theater Foundation to review and finalize plans for completing the theater’s restoration and expansion. The first phase included an addition providing restroom facilities for the complex and a new 200-seat environmental theater north of the existing lobby. The second phase focused on restoring the historic 1,700-seat auditorium balcony and exterior lobby, including ornamental plasterwork, decorative painting, and historic ticket booths. The scope also addressed the exterior terra-cotta façade, including repairs to the marquee, signage, and terra-cotta elements, balancing the preservation of historic architectural features with the theater’s continued public use.