List of Eastern Michigan University buildings


The following is a list of buildings at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan. EMU is home to many notable structures, including three high-rise residence halls and the multi-building Eastern Michigan University Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. Today EMU is composed of more than 122 buildings across of its academic and athletic campus.
The oldest remaining buildings on campus are Starkweather Hall and Welch Hall; the tallest buildings on campus are Hoyt, Hill, and Pittman Halls.

Campus

EMU is located in Ypsilanti, a city west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 and started as Michigan State Normal School. In 1899, it became the Michigan State Normal College when it created the first four-year curriculum for a normal college in the nation. None of the original buildings from the Michigan State Normal School have survived, as many of the buildings were wood frame and did not age well. In 1914, Pease Auditorium was built making it the campus' first auditorium. By 1939, residence halls were established allowing students to live on campus. With the addition of departments and the large educational enrollment after WWII, the school became Eastern Michigan College in 1956. The large enrollment boosted the number of buildings and residence halls on campus. Between 1900 and the 1950s, around 20 buildings were constructed on the present-day campus.
Today, the university is composed of an academic and athletic campus spread across, with 122 buildings. The EMU campus includes several buildings with sculpture by Corrado Parducci. The oldest remaining building on campus is Starkweather Hall, which opened in 1896, three days before Welch Hall. The Ypsilanti Water Tower, built in 1889, while not strictly speaking part of the campus, does border EMU on two sides; the north side of the water tower faces Welch Hall across Cross Street, while the east side of the tower faces a campus parking lot across Summit Street. Hoyt, Hill, and Pittman Halls, are the tallest buildings in Ypsilanti by floor count; only the Ypsilanti Water Tower, standing 147 feet tall on the highest ground in Ypsilanti, stands taller.

Historic buildings

Eastern Michigan University's Historic District, comprising Welch, Starkweather, McKenny and Sherzer Halls, is on the National Register of Historic Places The district was established in 1984.
Pease Auditorium is listed on the National Register of Historic Places independently from the Historic District, receiving the designation in 1984.

Academic Buildings

Many of EMU's colleges are housed in specific buildings. EMU's newest academic building is the Everett L. Marshall Building, EMU's first "green" building on campus. The building features extensive use of natural lighting and stair treads, furnishings, and furniture made of recycled materials. Flooring throughout the building is made from recycled and renewable resources. Other significant buildings include Pray-Harrold; when built in 1969, it was one of the largest classroom buildings in the United States.
ImageBuildingArchitectStyleCompletedLast Major RenovationCurrent usageNamesakeNotesRef.-
Everett L. Marshall BuildingLandberg Associates, Inc.Modern1999Academic
Everett L. Marshall, Dean of Records and Teacher CertificationBuilt on site of former Goodison Hall-
Ford Hall, Library, Mark Jefferson Library Lansing architects Bowd & MunsonColonial Revival Architecture19291982Academic ; art galleryRichard Ford, Head of Modern Language Department from 1903 to 1940-
Gary M. Owen College of BusinessDow, Howell and Gillmore AssociatesMichigan Modern1988Academic
Gary M. Owen, former Michigan Speaker of the House-
Mark Jefferson Science ComplexEinhorn, Yaffee PrescottBrutalist19672010AcademicMark Jefferson, Geography Department head 1901-39.-
Pease AuditoriumSmith Hinchman & GryllsNeoclassical19141990sPerformance hallFrederic H. Pease, professor of music from 1858–1909 and Head of Conservatory at MSNS-
John W. Porter Building
The Library 		Swanson AssociatesBrutalist19671998Academic
John W. Porter, President from 1979 to 1988-
Pray-Harrold BuildingSwanson and AssociatesBrutalist19692011Academic
Carl Esek Pray, Head of the Logical Science and History Department from 1914 to 1938, and Charles F. Harrold, Professor of English Literature from 1925 to 1943.-
Quirk Dramatic Arts Building & Sponberg TheaterSmith Hinchman & GryllsInternational/Modern19591984Quirk Theatre, 411-seat theatre; Sponberg Theatre, 202-seat theatre; Academic Daniel L. Quirk Jr., local philanthropist, and Harold Sponberg, President from 1965 to 1974Daniel L. Quirk Jr. was from a prominent Ypsilanti family; he founded The Ypsilanti Players, Inc. in 1933 and his daughter, Nancy Quirk Williams, was First Lady of Michigan, 1949 to 1961. New classroom and office space was added in 1967, and the building was last renovated in 1984 to expand the scene and costume shops, and enclose the Amphitheatre, which was renamed the Sponberg Theater. Harold Sponberg was President of Eastern from 1965 to 1974.-
Roosevelt Hall
Roosevelt High School 		Smith Hinchman & GryllsColonial Revival & Neoclassical19241973Academic
US President Theodore Roosevelt-
Sherzer Hall & ObservatoryE. W.. ArnoldLate Nineteenth Century Eclectic, Georgian Revival and Victorian Romanesque19031973 and 1989Academic;astronomical observatoryDr. William H. Sherzer, professor of geology and head of Department of Natural Sciences from 1892 to 1932-
Sill HallSwanson and AssociatesInternational style19651980Academic
John Mayhelm Barry Sill, President from 1886 to 1893-
Strong Hall19572019AcademicConnected to Mark Jefferson Building as part of Science Complex-
Geddes Town Hall School HouseUnknownVernacular18951987Academic
One-room school originally located at Morgan and Thomas roads in Pittsfield Township, used as a school until 1957. Moved to campus in 1987.

Administrative and Student Life buildings

EMU has several administrative buildings that also serve as student life locations. Bruce T. Halle Library houses one of the largest collections of children's literature in the United States. The building has as an automated retrieval system capable of housing 1 million items. While the most-used books are still on shelves, the majority of the school's books are stored within this system, which runs several stories underneath the library itself. Other buildings of historical significance include McKenny Union, Pierce Hall, Starkweather Hall, and Welch Hall. McKenny was the first student union on the campus of a teachers' college when it opened in 1931. Pierce Hall was dedicated as part of the centennial celebrations of the Normal College in 1949. The residents of Ypsilanti donated the money to construct the 120-foot tower; in June 1950, the school installed the Alumni Memorial Chimes, which were donated by the alumni and dedicated to those who died in World War II.
Starkweather Hall is the oldest building still standing on EMU's campus, and Welch Hall is the second oldest building on campus. In parts of Starkweather, the original doorknobs remain, bearing the initials "SCA" for the Student Christian Association, for whom the building was originally constructed. Starkweather Hall was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
ImageBuildingArchitectStyleCompletedLast Major RenovationCurrent usageNamesakeRef.
Boone Hall
Administration Building
The Arts Building
Ford Hall 		Smith Hinchman & GryllsRenaissance Revival19141990sAdministrativeRichard Gause Boone, President of Michigan State Normal College
Bruce T. Halle LibraryGiffels, Hoyem, and Basso, IncorporatedModern1997LibraryBruce Halle, MSNC alumni and founder and Chairman of the Board of Discount Tire
McKenny Hall
McKenny Union 		Frank Eurich Jrcollegiate gothic & art deco19311963, 1993, 2008Administrative; student lifeMSNC President Charles McKenny
Pierce HallR.S. GerganoffLate Modern / Late International with PWA Modern detailing19481989AdministrativeJohn D. Pierce, the first State Superintendent of Instruction from 1836 to 1841
Public Safety Building K. F. Leinninger AssociatesInternational19692010Police Department
Student CenterBurt Hill Kosar RittelmannPost Modern2006Student activity center
Starkweather HallMalcomson and HigginbothamRichardsonian Romanesque18951961, 1976, 1990EMU Honors CollegeMary Ann Newberry Starkweather, local philanthropist
Welch Hall
Training School
Malcomson and HigginbothamGeorgian Revival18961988Administrative offices; President's officeAdonijah S. Welch, first President of Normal Training School

Dining

Eastern has two food courts, an all-you-care-to-eat cafeteria, a marketplace, seven cafes, and three convenience stores. The larger dining facilities on campus are geographically located near residence halls.
ImageBuildingCompletedLast Major RenovationDining StyleFormer NameRef.
The Commons1960s2011Buffet service styleDining Commons 1
Eastern Eateries19601990s and 2018À la carteDining Commons 2
CrossRoads MarketPlace19692008À la carte, Convenience StoreDining Commons 3
Student Center Food Court2006Restaurants: Build Pizza, The Hasty Rabbit, Lobby Shop, Smashburger, Sono, Starbucks
Eagle Cafe at McKenny HallÀ la carte, Convenience Store
Eagle Cafe at Pray-HarroldÀ la carte, Convenience Store
Eagle Cafe at Alexander Music BuildingÀ la carte, Convenience Store
Eagle Cafe at the College of BusinessÀ la carte, Convenience Store
Eagle Cafe at Halle LibraryÀ la carte, Convenience Store
Eagle Cafe at Mark JeffersonÀ la carte, Convenience Store
Eagle Cafe at Marshall BuildingÀ la carte, Convenience Store

Athletic and Recreation buildings

EMU has several athletic and recreation facilities used for various sporting events and entertainment events. The EMU Convocation Center hosts convocation, graduation, and concerts. In 2008, Bruce Springsteen performed at Oestrike Stadium in support of Barack Obama during his presidential campaign. "Big Bob's"Lake House hosts yearly events in University Park.
ImageBuildingDesignerCompletedLast Major RenovationCurrent usageSeatingNamesakeRef.
EMU Convo CenterRossetti Associates / The Argos GroupDecember 9, 1998Arena, women's basketball men's basketball8,824 Seats
Bowen Field HouseGiffels and Vallet19552010Arena for track and field wrestling gymnastics5,400 SeatsWilbur Pardon Bowen, mathematics instructor and first head of the Department of Physical Education, 1894-1928
Eagle Crest Golf ClubKarl Litten19891997Golf Course, Hotel
Multi-Purpose Air-Supported Indoor Facility BEI Associates, Inc.2009Youth soccer, little league baseball, high school football teams, EMU club sports and recreational groups and Six intercollegiate sports
Big Bob's Lake HouseM.C. Smith & Associates Architectural Group1993Meeting Space, Walking Path, Pond, Sand volleyball courts, ice skating, Relay For Life800 seat amphitheaterLong-time former Rec/IM Director Bob England.
Olds-Robb Rec/IMRalph Calder and Associates,19821991Indoor track, weight rooms, whirlpool, Jones NatatoriumLloyd W. Olds 1916 alumni, Physical Education professor, EMU’s track team coach 1921-42,
Oestrike Stadium19712007Baseball Stadium, Softball Stadium,2,500 seatsRonald E. "Oak" Oestrike, former Baseball Coach from 1965 to 87
Olds/Marshall Track1991Track field, football field30,200 SeatsLloyd W. Olds and Everett L. Marshall
Rynearson Stadium19691994Football field30,200 SeatsElton J. Rynearson Sr., football coach for 26 seasons
Scicluna Field2005Women's soccer, youth soccer700 seatsPaul Scicluna, first women's soccer head coach

Residence halls and apartments

EMU has 12 on-campus residence halls, four on-campus apartment complexes, and two university-owned houses. Many residence halls were built after World War II and named after influential professors and EMU presidents.
ImageBuildingArchitectCompletedLast major renovationCurrent usageNamesakeRef.
600 West Forest R. S. Gerganoff19491975House
601 West Forest Unknown1863–18692010Apartment complexGeorge M. Brinkerhoff
Best HallSwanson Associates1960s2013Residence hallMartha Best, a professor of Biology and Bacteriology from 1924 to 1952.
Brown HallR. S. Gerganoff19491973Apartment complexJames M. “Bingo” Brown, football and baseball coach in 1923–29 and first dean of men 1925-62.
Buell HallSwanson Associates19581990sResidence hallBertha G. Buell Professor of History, English Lit, and Political Science from 1899 to 1937
Cornell CourtsSwanson Associates1961 and 19662000sApartment complexLocated on Cornell Street
Downing HallSwanson Associates19571990sResidence hallEstelle Downing, professor of English from 1898 to 1938
Goddard HallR.S. Gerganoff19551994noneMary A. Goddard, professor of botany from 1900 to 1939

Hill HallK. F. Leinninger Associates19692009Residence hallSusan B. Hill, Dean of Women from 1939 to 1962 and Dean of Students from 1962 to 1969
Hoyt HallK. F. Leinninger Associates19692012Residence hallCharles Oliver Hoyt, Professor of Pedagogy and Head of Education Department from 1896 to 1928
Jones HallR. S. Gerganoff19481994noneLydia I. Jones, Dean of Women from 1924 to 1939
King HallR.S. Gerganoff19391971Office spaceJulia Anne King, Dean of Women from 1881–1886 and Head of History and Social Science Department from 1886-1913.
Munson HallR.S. Gerganoff19411973Apartment complexEMU President John M. Munson
Phelps HallR.S. Gerganoff19682011Residence hallJessie Phelps, Professor in the Natural Sciences
Pittman HallK. F. Leinninger Associates19692011Residence hallMarvin Summers Pittman, the “father of Lincoln Consolidated School”, Director of Rural Education at Normal and an EMU faculty member from 1921-34.
Putnam HallR.S. Gerganoff19682011Residence hallEMU President Daniel Putnam 1880; 1881–1883; and 1885-1886
Sellers HallR.S. Gerganoff19682011Residence hallJohn A. Sellers, Department Head of Chemistry from 1958 to 1964
The Village Post Modern Residential2001Apartment-style residence hall
Walton HallR.S. Gerganoff19682011Residence hallGenevieve Walton, University Librarian from 1892 to 1932
Westview Apartments1967 and 19692000sApartment complexLocated on Westview Street
Wise HallSwanson Associates19682017Residence hallMargaret E. Wise, a first grade teacher-trainer 1893 to 1939 and Director of Placement from 1927 to 1939

Former buildings

Nine buildings that were once part of EMU's campus no longer stand. These buildings include the Old Main Building, The Conservatory, an unnamed wooden gymnasium, The Old Gymnasium, the Old Post Mansion, the Business and Finance Building and Goodison Hall, both designed by R.S. Gerganoff, and Pine Grove Terrace Apartments. Goodison was among the first residence halls built on Eastern Michigan’s campus.
The finance building went by various names such as the Health Center, the Frederick Alexander Music Building, and informally "Old Alex" after 1980. In 2005, Pine Grove Apartments were demolished to make room for the Student Center.
ImageBuildingArchitectCompletedDemolishedUsageLocationRef.
Goodison HallR.S. Gerganoff19391998Residence HallGoodison was demolished to build Marshall Hall
Alexander HallR.S. Gerganoff1939Health Center, Music building
Old Gymnasium18961965GymnasiumOld Gymnasium stood in the block bounded by Cross Street, Summit Street, Ellis Street, and Normal Street, near the Ypsilanti Water Tower and Welch and Boone Halls on the EMU campus
Old Main Building1852, burned down 1859, rebuilt 1860classrooms, library, and administration functionsThe south wing stood near the present location of Boone Hall, the north wing was near the present location of Pierce Hall, and the rear addition reached the location of Ford Hall.
Pine Grove TerraceSwanson Associates1955 & 19572005Apartment complexWhere the EMU Student Center stands today