McKenny Hall

McKenny Union during the 2006-2007 remodeling

McKenny Hall, previously called McKenny Union and Charles McKenny Union, is one of four buildings comprising the Eastern Michigan University Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places^[1] on the campus of Eastern Michigan University.^[2] Designed by Detroit architect Frank Eurich Jr., construction began on November 8, 1930, and the building was dedicated on October 24, 1931.^[3] Named for Charles McKenny, who served from 1912 to 1933 as president of the school, then known as Michigan State Normal College, McKenny Union was the first student union on the campus of a teachers' college.^[4]

McKenny originally proposed the idea for a student union in 1924 and by 1928, the school had pledges totaling $350,000; however, due to the 1929 stock market crash and the Great Depression, only $130,000 was actually collected by 1930, leading to a change in the design.^[4] In 1937, the State of Michigan took control of bond repayment, drawing funds from student fees.^[2]

The building, in the collegiate gothic style with some art deco features, is on the south side of the EMU campus, facing Cross Street and the Ypsilanti Water Tower.

McKenny Hall after remodeling

In 1963, an expansion by the architectural firm of Jickling & Lyman of Birmingham ^[5] began, and the enlarged union, now featuring a bookstore in the basement and a bowling alley, was rededicated on April 30, 1966.^[4] From 1992 to early 1993, the union was again renovated, adding a new roof, a first floor bookstore, a loading dock, a passenger elevator, a bank, a food court, and barrier-free access. In 2006, McKenny Union was closed for another renovation. A new student center opened on campus that November, and upon since reopening, McKenny Union, now sometimes referred to as McKenny Hall, now contains career services,^[6] human resources, and veteran services^[7] offices, as well as occasionally hosting events and meetings in the ballroom.^[4]

External links

• Virtual historic tour of EMU
• Chronological historic tour of EMU

See also

• Eastern Michigan University
• Ypsilanti, Michigan

References

1. ^ Heflin, Cindy (2009-06-24). "Eastern Michigan University wins historic preservation award". MLive.com. http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2009/06/eastern_michigan_university_wi.html. Retrieved 2010-02-20. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "EMU Virtual Tour: McKenny Union". Eastern Michigan University. http://www.emich.edu/walkingtour/mckenny.htm. Retrieved 2010-02-20. 
3. ^ "Charles McKenny Hall Dedicated Today". The Ypsilanti Daily Press. 1931-10-24. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DtudOrCDfaU/S2HXlcKfTaI/AAAAAAAAC0U/Guf6Hq2Bb2I/s1600-h/mckenny.jpg. Retrieved 2010-02-20. 
4. ^ ^{a b c d} German, Pamela; Robinson, Veronica (Spring 2009). "Charles McKenny Union: An EMU Icon" (PDF). Ypsilanti Gleanings. Ypsilanti Historical Society. pp. 14–15. http://www.ypsilantihistoricalsociety.org/publications/spring2009.pdf. Retrieved 2010-02-20. 
5. ^ Eastern Michigan University, ‘’Vital statistics Regarding Campus Buildings’’ August 24, 1964, document in EMU Archives.
6. ^ Podell, Ron (2007-08-14). "McKenny Hall reopens; Career Services now operating in renovated building". Focus EMU Online. Eastern Michigan University. http://www.emich.edu/focus_emu/081407/mckennyrenovation.html. Retrieved 2010-02-20. 
7. ^ Podell, Ron (2009-07-14). "Veterans Services moves to McKenny Hall". Focus EMU Online. http://www.emich.edu/focus_emu/071409/veterans.html. Retrieved 2010-02-20.