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 (collectively known as the Towers).
Campus
EMU is located in Ypsilanti, a city west of Detroit and eight miles (13 km) 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 (formerly the site of the EMU gymnasium) 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.
Image Building Architect Style Completed Last Major Renovation Current usage NamesakeNotes Ref.Everett L. Marshall BuildingLandberg Associates, Inc.Modern1999Academic (College of Health & Human Services)Everett L. Marshall, Dean of Records and Teacher CertificationBuilt on site of former Goodison HallFord Hall (1967–present), Library (1929–1962), Mark Jefferson Library (1952–1967)Lansing architects Bowd & MunsonColonial Revival Architecture19291982Academic (School of Art & Design); art galleryRichard Ford, Head of Modern Language Department from 1903 to 1940Eastern Michigan University, ‘’Vital statistics Regarding Campus Buildings’’ August 24, 1964, document in EMU Archives.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 MSNSJohn W. Porter Building (1997–Present) The Library (1967-1997)Swanson AssociatesBrutalist19671998Academic (College of Education)John W. Porter, university president from 1979 to 1988Pray-Harrold BuildingSwanson and AssociatesBrutalist19692011Academic (College of Arts & Sciences)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 (School of Communication, Media, & Theatre Arts)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 (1973–Present) Roosevelt High School (1924-1969)Smith Hinchman & GryllsColonial Revival & Neoclassical19241973Academic (College of Technology)US President Theodore RooseveltSherzer 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 1932Sill HallSwanson and AssociatesInternational style19652021Academic (College of Technology)John Mayhelm Barry Sill, President from 1886 to 1893Strong Hall19572019AcademicConnected to Mark Jefferson Building as part of Science ComplexGeddes Town Hall School HouseUnknownVernacular18951987Academic (College of Education)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 (the ARC) 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.
Image Building Architect Style Completed Last Major Renovation Current usage Namesake Ref.Boone Hall (1968–present) Administration Building (1914–1950) The Arts Building (1950–1962) Ford Hall (1962–1968)Smith Hinchman & GryllsRenaissance Revival19141990sAdministrativeRichard Gause Boone, President of Michigan State Normal College (1893-1899)Bruce T. Halle LibraryGiffels, Hoyem, and Basso, IncorporatedModern1997LibraryBruce Halle, MSNC alumni and founder and chairman of the board of Discount TireMcKenny Hall (2009–Present) McKenny Union (1931-2008)Frank Eurich Jrcollegiate gothic & art deco19311963, 1993, 2008Administrative; student lifeMSNC President Charles McKenny (1912-1933)Pierce HallR.S. GerganoffLate Modern / Late International with PWA Modern detailing19481989AdministrativeJohn D. Pierce, the first State Superintendent of Instruction from 1836 to 1841Public Safety Building (formerly the Hoyt Conference Center)K. F. Leinninger AssociatesInternational19692010Police Department (EMU DPS)Student CenterBurt Hill Kosar Rittelmann AssociatesPost Modern2006Student activity centerStarkweather HallMalcomson and HigginbothamRichardsonian Romanesque18951961, 1976, 1990EMU Honors CollegeMary Ann Newberry Starkweather, local philanthropistWelch Hall(1960s-Present) Training School (1896-1960s)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. Image Building Completed Last Major Renovation Dining Style Former name(s) Ref.The Commons1960s2011Buffet service styleDining Commons 1 (DC1)Eastern Eateries19601990s and 2018À la carteDining Commons 2 (DC2)CrossRoads MarketPlace19692008À la carte, Convenience StoreDining Commons 3 (DC3)Student Center Food Court2006Restaurants: Build Pizza, The Hasty Rabbit, Lobby Shop (convenience store), Smashburger, Sono, StarbucksEagle Cafe at McKenny HallÀ la carte, Convenience StoreEagle Cafe at Pray-HarroldÀ la carte, Convenience StoreEagle Cafe at Alexander Music BuildingÀ la carte, Convenience StoreEagle Cafe at the College of BusinessÀ la carte, Convenience StoreEagle Cafe at Halle LibraryÀ la carte, Convenience StoreEagle Cafe at Mark JeffersonÀ la carte, Convenience StoreEagle 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.