McGregor Memorial Conference Center

McGregor Memorial Conference Center
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Front of McGregor Center
Location:	495 Ferry Mall, Detroit, Michigan
Coordinates:	42°21′33″N 83°4′15″W / 42.35917°N 83.07083°W / 42.35917; -83.07083Coordinates: 42°21′33″N 83°4′15″W / 42.35917°N 83.07083°W / 42.35917; -83.07083
Built:	1958
Architect:	Minoru Yamasaki
Governing body:	Government
NRHP Reference#:	10001023[1]
Added to NRHP:	December 13, 2010

The McGregor Memorial Conference Center is an office building located at 495 Ferry Mall, on the campus of Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. The building was Minoru Yamasaki's first commission following his trip to Japan and re-envisionment of architectural design.

History

Side view of center showing beam structure

Pond in rear of Center

Pond in relation to Center

McGregor Center Atrium

The McGregor Memorial Conference Center was funded by the McGregor Fund, as a memorial to Tracy W. and Katherine McGregor who initiated the fund in 1925. The McGregor Fund specified that the building be used as "a community conference center for groups of citizens interested in exploring ways and means of being helpful to others." To that end, Wayne State University hired architect Minoru Yamasaki in August 1955 to design the building.^[2] The commission came after Yamasaki's long convalescence and subsequent trip to Japan, and was his first opportunity to put into practice his re-envisionment of architecture.^[2] The Center was completed in 1958, and opened to immediate accolades from architectural magazines who called it "delightful" and "refreshing,"^[2] and from the American Institute of Architects who awarded Yamasaki a First Honor Award for the design.^[3] Over the next seven years, Yamasaki designed three more buildings for Wayne's campus: the Education Building, Prentis Hall, and DeRoy Auditorium.^[4]

Description

The McGregor Memorial Conference Center is a two-story symmetrical pavilion covered with travertine marble.^[5] It sits on a podium faced with Mankato stone, with integral reflecting pool and sunken garden wrapping around the building on two sides.^[5][6] The building exhibits a triangular design motif on the outside and inside. Inside, a skylit entry hall, dividing the interior space in two, is flanked by two levels of conference rooms.^[5] The McGregor Center offers contains 11 meeting rooms, a 600-seat auditorium, a 2,500 sq ft (230 m²) reception area, and a 3,500 sq ft (330 m²) exhibit space.^[3] The conference rooms can be combined to accommodate groups of various sizes.^[6] Interior design features white marble floors, red carpeting, and black leather chairs by Mies van der Rohe.^[6]

References

1. ^ "National Register of Historic Places WEEKLY LIST OF ACTIONS TAKEN ON PROPERTIES: 12/13/10 THROUGH 12/17/10". National Park Service. December 23, 2010. http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/listings/20101223.htm. Retrieved December 30, 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Art: The Road to Xanadu". Time. Friday, Jan. 18, 1963. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,874696-7,00.html. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "McGregor Memorial Conference Center". Wayne State University. http://busop.wayne.edu/mcgregor.php. Retrieved December 30, 2010. 
4. ^ "Inaugural Minoru Yamasaki lecture will highlight legendary history and design of several Wayne State University buildings" (Press release). Wayne State University. November 1, 2010. http://www.media.wayne.edu/2010/11/01/inaugural-minoru-yamasaki-lecture-will-highlight-legendary. Retrieved December 30, 2010. 
5. ^ ^{a b c} Eric J. Hill; John Gallagher; American Institute of Architects-Detroit Chapter (2003). AIA Detroit: the American Institute of Architects guide to Detroit architecture. Wayne State University Press. p. 146. ISBN 0814331203. http://books.google.com/books?id=sZGskamYzjUC&pg=PA146#v=onepage&q&f=false. 
6. ^ ^{a b c} G. E. Kidder Smith (2000). Source Book of American Architecture: 500 Notable Buildings from the 10th Century to the Present. Princeton Architectural Press. p. 444. ISBN 1568982542. http://books.google.com/books?id=kM5H7TNRh2sC&pg=PA444#v=onepage&q&f=false.