Original Construction
1928
Completion Date
2022
Size
192,000 sqft; 105,000 sqft addition
Awards
1998 Preservation Project of the Year Ann Arbor Historic District Commission

The Alexander G. Ruthven Museums Building is a heritage building prominently located in the heart of the University of Michigan central campus. Designed by renowned architect Albert Kahn in a neoclassical style as the original university natural history museum and constructed by Spence Brothers in 1928.

HopkinsBurns Design Studio served as historic preservation consultant to HED and was responsible for the window replacement, masonry restoration, and restoration of character-defining historic features, including the bronze entry and rotunda.

1970’s era windows were replaced with new historically appropriate thermally glazed aluminum windows. Mullion and muntin profiles and colors match the few surviving original steel windows. Brick and stone masonry was repointed, and selective repairs were carried out using salvaged brick and limestone. Stone cleaning used non-abrasive, gentle chemical methods.

The beautiful interior rotunda was restored and illuminated. The original cast bronze entry doors and grilles, custom designed by artist and sculptor Carleton Watson Angell, were lovingly restored. Heavily soiled travertine walls were cleaned by hand. The polychrome painted case plaster ceiling was cleaned, repaired, and restored. Bronze railing and light fixtures were carefully refurbished and restored.