Original Construction
1938
Completion Date
2003
Size
173,200 sqft
National Register of Historic Places

Designed by SmithGroup in 1938, the landmark five-story facility features an Indiana limestone exterior with a granite base course, copper roofing, and bronze window and door frames. Servicing as a premier public events venue for both the University of Michigan and the broader Ann Arbor arts community, the building also acts as a key spatial link connecting Central Campus with North Campus graduate programs.

Eugene C. Hopkins, FAIA, provided historic preservation expertise to ensure the building's historic integrity was preserved while modernizing its infrastructure. Following a 1997 infrastructure study and subsequent program analysis, the team executed critical exterior restoration, including cleaning and tuckpointing the limestone, repairing the copper roof, and restoring the bronze windows and doors. The scope also involved updating mechanical, electrical, and life-safety systems, alongside interior restorations that revitalized public spaces, repaired damaged decorative painting, and upgraded office suites into state-of-the-art facilities for faculty and staff.