Wayne State University Buildings

Last updated
Wayne State University Buildings
Old Main WSU - Detroit Michigan.jpg
Old Main on WSU campus
Location Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Coordinates 42°21′16″N83°4′2″W / 42.35444°N 83.06722°W / 42.35444; -83.06722 Coordinates: 42°21′16″N83°4′2″W / 42.35444°N 83.06722°W / 42.35444; -83.06722
Built1895
Architect Malcomson & Higginbotham; Field, Hinchman & Smith
Architectural style Neoclassical, Queen Anne
NRHP reference No. 78001524 [1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJune 23, 1978
Designated MSHSJanuary 19, 1957 [2]

The Wayne State University historic district consists of three buildings on 4735-4841 Cass Avenue in Midtown Detroit, Michigan: the Mackenzie House (4735 Cass), Hilberry Theatre (4743 Cass), and Old Main (4841 Cass), all on the campus of Wayne State University. [3] The buildings were designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1957 [2] and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. [1]

Contents

Mackenzie House

Mackenzie House (the Hilberry Theatre is to the right) Mackenzie House WSU - Detroit Michigan.jpg
Mackenzie House (the Hilberry Theatre is to the right)

The Mackenzie House is a Queen Anne house designed by Malcomson and Higginbotham and built in 1895. The original occupant was Detroit banker Frank Blackman. In 1906, David Mackenzie, principal of Central High School and founder of the College of the City of Detroit, [4] moved into the house, where he lived until his death. His widow, Esther, continued living there until 1935. After Esther moved out, Wayne State University acquired the house, using it as the headquarters of the Women's Guild. It later provided office space for a number of other entities in the university. [5]

In the mid-1970s, the Mackenzie House was slated for demolition, until a group of Wayne State students protested. Their successful effort created a new organization, Preservation Wayne. The building now serves as the offices of the organization, renamed Preservation Detroit. [6] In 2018, plans were made to move the house to a new location within the same block to make room for the Hilberry Gateway Performance Project. [7] The house was moved in April 2019. [8]

The Mackenzie House is a two-and-a-half-story red brick structure with a prominent round tower with a conical turret on one corner of the facade. A large wooden porch wraps around the opposing corner and shelters the front entrance. The building has a slate hipped roof with gables. [5]

Hilberry Theatre

Hilberry Theatre Hilberry Theatre WSU - Detroit Michigan.jpg
Hilberry Theatre

The Hilberry Theatre was designed by the architectural firm of Field, Hinchman and Smith (predecessor of Smith, Hinchman and Grylls) and built in 1916-17 as the First Church of Christ Scientist. [9] The auditorium was designed to seat more than 1,500 congregants. [9] The Christian Science congregation used the building until 1961, when they sold it to Wayne State University. Wayne State remodeled the interior to create a theatre to seat 532 people, serving as a repertory theater. [9] The building was re-christened in honor of Clarence B. Hilberry, the fourth president of WSU, and reopened in January 1964. The university continues to use the building to house its repertory theatre. In 2018, ground was broken on a major expansion project, the Hilberry Gateway Performance Complex. [10]

The Hilberry Theatre is a large rectangular two-story neoclassical building measuring 125 feet by 150 feet. The front facade is of a Roman temple design with six fluted ionic columns flanked by two half columns supporting an entablature. Behind the columns are seven recessed bays with alternating doors and windows on the first floor and windows above on the second. The two floors are separated by a belt course. The side facade facing Cass is of a similar form as the front facade. [5]

Old Main

Old Main, c. 1904 Central High School historic - Detroit Michigan.jpg
Old Main, c. 1904

Old Main was designed by Malcomson and Higginbotham and built between 1895 and 1896. [11] It originally housed Detroit's Central High School. The original building plan had 103 rooms arranged in a "T" shape with an auditorium that seated over 2,000 people. In 1908, a wing containing gymnasiums, laboratories and shops was added. [11]

The function of the building began to change in 1917, when Detroit Junior College opened its doors in the building. The enrollment in the college grew, crowding the building and the high school still housed there. [11] In 1923, the College of the City of Detroit (CCD) replaced the Detroit Junior College, crowding the building even more. Finally, in 1926, Central High School moved out of the building, leaving CCD as the primary occupant, along with a smaller College High School. [11] In 1928, the latter closed, leaving CCD as the sole tenant. [11] Five years later, Wayne State University was formed, uniting CCD with a College of Pharmacy, the Detroit Medical College, the Detroit Teachers' College, a law school, and a graduate school. [5] A large wing on Warren Avenue was added in 1937. The building continued to serve Wayne State, and in 1994 received major renovations and a new addition. [11]

Old Main was originally a T-shaped structure, but subsequent additions have enlarged the floor plan. The original building has a blue Bedford limestone base with Berea sandstone on the first floor. The upper three and one half stories are made of buff pressed brick. The main facade has a protruding square tower. The main entrance, located at the base of the tower, is through an elaborately carved Romanesque arch. The top of the tower includes a clock on each face. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

Wayne State University Public university in Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University (WSU) is a public research university in Detroit, Michigan. It is Michigan's third-largest university. Founded in 1868, Wayne State consists of 13 schools and colleges offering approximately 350 programs to nearly 25,000 graduate and undergraduate students. Wayne State University, along with the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, compose the University Research Corridor of Michigan. Wayne State is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity".

Wirt C. Rowland American architect

Wirt Clinton Rowland was an American architect best known for his work in Detroit, Michigan.

Cadillac Place Government offices in Detroit, Michigan

Cadillac Place, formerly the General Motors Building, is a landmark high-rise office complex located at 3044 West Grand Boulevard in the New Center area of Detroit, Michigan. It was renamed for the French founder of Detroit, Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac. It is a National Historic Landmark in Michigan, listed in 1985.

1001 Woodward Skyscraper in Detroit

1001 Woodward is an office building in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. It replaced the Majestic Building, a 14-story high rise on the same site. The building is located just south of the neighboring David Stott Building, at the corner of Woodward Avenue and Michigan Avenue overlooking Campus Martius Park. Constructed from 1963 to 1965, the 25-story building is designed in the International Style. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.

AT&T Michigan Headquarters Headquarters of American company AT&T in Detroit, USA

The AT&T Michigan Headquarters is a complex of skyscrapers and buildings located at 1st Street, Cass Avenue, State Street, and Michigan Avenue in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. It contains the AT&T Building, the AT&T Building addition, the Maintenance Shop and is owned by communications giant AT&T.

Wayne County Building United States historic place

The Wayne County Building is a monumental government structure located at 600 Randolph Street in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. It formerly contained the Wayne County administrative offices – now located in the Guardian Building at 500 Griswold Street – and its courthouse. As Wayne County Courthouse, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. When it was completed in 1902, it was regarded as "one of the most sumptuous buildings in Michigan".

Town Apartments United States historic place

Town Residences, formerly the Town Apartments, is a high-rise apartment building located at 1511 First Street in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. Originally designed by Wirt C. Rowland, the structure was built in two distinct phases: construction started in 1928 but was soon halted by the Great Depression, and the building was left open to the elements for two decades before being finally completed in 1953. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.

Detroit Masonic Temple Masonic building in Detroit, Michigan

The Detroit Masonic Temple is the world's largest Masonic Temple. Located in the Cass Corridor of Detroit, Michigan, at 500 Temple Street, the building serves as a home to various masonic organizations including the York Rite Sovereign College of North America. The building contains a variety of public spaces including three theaters, three ballrooms and banquet halls, and a 160 by 100 feet clear-span drill hall.

Bonstelle Theatre United States historic place in Detroit, Michigan

The Bonstelle Theatre is a theater operated by Wayne State University, and located at 3424 Woodward Avenue in the Midtown Woodward Historic District of Detroit, Michigan. It was built in 1902 as the Temple Beth-El, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. As of 2019, the University plans to decommission the theatre and lease it to a private developer for inclusion in a boutique hotel.

Old Main (Wayne State University) United States historic place

Old Main is an academic building on the campus of Wayne State University. It is located at 4841 Cass Avenue in Midtown Detroit, Michigan, on Wayne's main campus.

Thompson Home Historic house in Michigan, United States

The Thompson Home is a Victorian structure located at 4756 Cass Avenue in Midtown Detroit, Michigan. Originally the Thompson Home for Old Ladies, it was constructed in 1884, designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1974, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Verona Apartments (Detroit, Michigan) United States historic place

The Verona Apartments is an apartment building located in the Cass Corridor Detroit, Michigan. The central section is located at 96 W. Ferry. The East and West wings are located at 92 W. Ferry and 100 W. Ferry, respectively. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. The Verona Apartments are now owned and leased by Cass and Ferry Apartments.

Warren–Prentis Historic District Historic district in Michigan, United States

The Warren–Prentis Historic District is a historic district in Detroit, Michigan, including the east–west streets of Prentis, Forest, Hancock, and the south side of Warren, running from Woodward Avenue on the east to Third Avenue on the west. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

Chatsworth Apartments United States historic place

The Chatsworth Apartments is an apartment building located in Midtown Detroit, Michigan, within the campus of Wayne State University. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

Cass Park Historic District Historic district in Michigan, United States

The Cass Park Historic District is a historic district in Midtown Detroit, Michigan, consisting of 25 buildings along the streets of Temple, Ledyard, and 2nd, surrounding Cass Park. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005 and designated a city of Detroit historic district in 2016.

University–Cultural Center Multiple Resource Area United States historic place

The University–Cultural Center MRA is a pair of multiple property submissions to the National Register of Historic Places which were approved on April 29 and May 1, 1986. The structures included are all located in Midtown, near Woodward Avenue and Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. The two submissions are designated the University–Cultural Center MRA Phase I, containing five properties, and the University–Cultural Center MRA Phase II, containing three properties.

Detroit Financial District Historic district in Michigan, United States

The Detroit Financial District is a United States historic district in downtown Detroit, Michigan. The district was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on December 14, 2009, and was announced as the featured listing in the National Park Service's weekly list of December 24, 2009.

Malcomson and Higginbotham was an architectural firm started in the nineteenth century and based in Detroit, Michigan. A successor firm, Malcomson-Greimel and Associates, still exists in Rochester, Michigan as of 2010.

Hilberry Theatre (Wayne State University) United States historic place

The Hilberry Theatre is a 534-seat auditorium located at 4743 Cass Avenue in Midtown Detroit, Michigan. At this location, 40-50 graduate students are employed at the Wayne State University main campus. The students are pursuing master of fine arts degrees in acting, directing, theatre management, costuming or design management. Created in 1963, the Hilberry Theatre is the oldest graduate repertory company in the United States. The Hilberry Theatre puts on roughly six different plays, both modern and classic, from October through May each year.

University of Michigan Central Campus Historic District United States historic place

The University of Michigan Central Campus Historic District is a historic district consisting of a group of major buildings on the campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. 1 2 "Wayne State University Historic District". Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
  3. ↑ Campus map from Wayne State University
  4. ↑ Mackenzie House from Michigan Historical Markers
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Robert E. Miller (March 30, 1978), NATIONAL REGISTER OF IDSTORIC PLACES INVENTORY-- NOMINATION FORM: Wayne State University Buildings
  6. ↑ Preservation Detroit history
  7. ↑ Dana Afana (March 27, 2018). "Historic Detroit home to be moved to make room for theatre complex". Detroit News.
  8. ↑ "Historic David Mackenzie House begins move to new Detroit location". Detroit Free Press. April 1, 2019.
  9. 1 2 3 Hilberry Theater/First Church of Christ Scientist from Detroit1701.org
  10. ↑ "Gateway Performance Complex".
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Partners in Education: Old Main and Wayne", Patricia Bartkowski, from the Walter P. Reuther Library

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.