Original Construction
1857
Completion Date
2020
Size
12,074 square feet

Built just two years after the institution’s founding in 1857, Cowles House is Michigan State University’s oldest standing building. It originally served as a faculty residence, official president’s home, and student hub before transitioning to administrative use in the early 1900s. Influenced by the thriving Mid-Century Modern movement in Michigan, Ralph R. Calder transformed the residence in 1949. By 2017, the university initiated a comprehensive rehabilitation to convert the estate into a premier event venue while celebrating its rich history and Midcentury heritage.

HopkinsBurns Design Studio led the historic rehabilitation, addressing critical functional and programmatic needs while upgrading the facility to host university events. A major focus of the firm's scope was replacing the original Terrace Room with a bright, modern space featuring natural wood and bluestone, wood window walls, skylights, and a custom bar crafted by the MSU Shadows Program using timber from a tree previously removed from the site. HopkinsBurns also designed a new dual-level exterior terrace providing universal access to the historic gardens, added an elevator lift to connect the rear entry to the first floor, and expanded the kitchen and restroom facilities. Working in collaboration with modern and traditional Michigan artisans, the team seamlessly integrated Herman Miller period-appropriate furnishings and custom Pewabic tile installations for a new dining room mosaic commemorating MSU. This effort by HopkinsBurns restored Cowles House as an elegant, accessible venue for the university community.