Michigan State University Housing

Michigan State University Housing is a large and complex network of housing for students and faculty of Michigan State University, most of the housing is in the form of residence halls on the school's campus, but there are also the University apartments, fraternity and sorority housing, and free-standing housing for grad students, faculty and staff may as well. The University expanded its housing greatly in the 1950s and 1960s resulting in what is now the largest residence hall system in the United States.^[1] 16,000 students live in MSU's 23 undergraduate halls, one graduate hall, and three apartment villages. Each residence hall has its own hall government, with representatives in the Residence Halls Association (RHA). In total 245 buildings for housing and food service, as well as 74 other buildings that help support the housing complex system.^[2] Yet despite the size and extent of on-campus housing, 58% of students live off-campus.^[3]

Residence Halls

West Circle

The West Circle residence halls were designed by the Malcomson, Calder & Hammond Architectural Firm, and were built throughout the 1930s and 1940s.^[4] They were built as one of the nine Public Works Administration (PWA) building projects on campus in that era.^[5] Built on “sacred ground”, the original campus growth sprang from this area. The ivy-covered halls are of a Tudor-style design, with high-pitched gabled roofs, metal casement windows, slate roofs, Renaissance detailing, and recall medieval estates.^[4] Although currently all but Yakeley are co-ed, the West Circle complex was originally all female.^[4] Reflecting that fact, each of the West Circle halls is named for a woman who made significant contributions to Michigan State.^[6]

Campbell Hall

The West Circle neighborhood is made up of 6 buildings named for the following women:

• Mary Anne Mayo- (1931) houses 250 students.^[6][7]
• Louise H. Campbell- (1939) houses approximately 300 students.^[8]
• Linda E. Landon- (1947) houses approximately 300 students^[9]
• Elida Yakeley-Maude Gilchrist- (1947) houses a combined 500 students.^[5]
• Sarah Langdon Williams- (1937) houses 160 residents.^[7]

Mary Mayo Hall

Mary Mayo Hall was built in 1931 as the first residence hall in the West Circle complex.^[10] It is named after Mary Mayo, a school teacher and wife of a Civil War veteran who was also an active member of the Grange.^[10] Mayo wanted her daughter to be able to attend a collegiate institution, but MAC (Michigan Agricultural College, former name for Michigan State University) did not have a program for women at the time. Through her speeches and involvement with the Grange, Mary Mayo became an advocate for a women's program and women's housing at MAC. Her persistence was rewarded in 1896 when the first women's course was officially created.^[10]

Mayo Hall reopened in the fall of 2009 after a 15-month renovation. The renovation included upgrades to the plumbing and electrical systems, new furniture, and many cosmetic changes on the interior of the building.^[11] Even with all of the changes, every effort was made to preserve Mayo's historic architecture and sacred grounds. Mary Mayo Hall is the oldest residence hall still being used as such, an it has long been rumored that the building is haunted. There are various stories to explain the ghostly presence that many residents have felt, though no concrete evidence exists to show that these stories are much more than tall tales.^[10]

Red Cedar

The Red Cedar Complex is close to the geographic center of campus.^[12] Snyder and Phillips Halls contain classrooms and are home to the Residential College in Arts & Humanities.

Snyder-Phillips Hall

The Red Cedar is made up of:

• Stevens Mason/Theodore Abbot Halls
• Jonathan L. Snyder/Glenn C. Phillips Halls

East Complex

East Complex halls are located just off of Hagadorn Road near the East IM and intramural fields. Close to the Business complex, the MSU College of Law, both the College of Osteopathic Medicine and the College of Human Medicine, the College of Veterinary Medicine and a five-minute walk to the Wharton Center.^[13] Holmes, McDonel, and Akers Halls all contain classrooms, and Holmes is home to Lyman Briggs College. The East Complex is made up of:

McDonel Hall

McDonel Hall is a residence hall on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. Part of the East Complex of residence halls at MSU, McDonel Hall provides housing to almost 600 students, many of whom are international students participating in MSU's Study Abroad Program. With an emphasis on the appreciation of international culture, McDonel Hall is home to the International Language and Cultural Residence on the third floor of West McDonel Hall, La Casa, a special Spanish language speaking floor, and the Arabic Language Instruction Flagship Program. Typically known for its more mature atmosphere, McDonel Hall provides housing for transfer students and students who have completed their first year in six coed-by-suite floors, including two quiet floors. McDonel also features music practice rooms, a fitness center, weight room, a Sparty's Retail Store, recreation area, sand volleyball court and a basketball half court.

Other Halls

• John C. Holmes East/West Halls
• Forrest H. Akers East/West Halls(Akers-Hubbard Complex)
• Bela K. Hubbard North/South Halls(Akers-Hubbard Complex)
• Floyd W. Owen Graduate Hall
• Van Hoosen Halls

South Complex

Case, Wonders, Holden and Wilson halls are located in the midst of the athletic venues situated across from the Intramural fields and near Spartan Stadium, IM Sports West, Munn Ice Arena, the Smith Center, and the Breslin Student Events Center.^[14] All of the buildings in South complex contain classrooms, and Case Hall is the home of James Madison College. The South Complex is made up of:

• Albert H. and Sarah A. Case North/South Halls (1961)
• Wallace K. and Grace Wonders North/South Halls
• Lynne C. Holden East/West Halls
• Matilda R. and Alfred G. Wilson East/West Halls

In addition to a newly renovated Holden Hall, Wonders & Case Hall's dining areas will be renovated to match the Brody Square dining center located in Brody Hall and the Gallery in Snyder/ Phillips Hall.^[15]

Brody Complex

Brody Complex is a group of six student housing buildings located at the far northwestern corner of the campus just north of the Red Cedar River and bordered by streets Grand River Ave. & Harrison Rd. It is only located a short walk from the Breslin Student Events Center. The Brody complex comprises six dormitories:

• Armstrong Hall
• Bailey Hall
• Bryan Hall
• Butterfield Hall
• Emmons Hall
• Rather Hall

In the center of the complex is Brody Hall, home to Brody Square, a unique dining destination for students, and many classrooms, offices, and meeting spaces. All residence halls in the Brody Complex feature community-style bathrooms and all halls except Butterfield are co-ed by wing. The halls also feature the biggest student rooms on campus and parking just outside of the buildings.^[16]

Brody Neighborhood Renovations

The newly constructed Brody Square appears to be a key factor in students’ living arrangement plans for the coming school year.^[17] Renovations began on Brody Hall in January 2009. Among other upgrades, planned improvements include redesigned entrances,new dining area, a two-story main lounge and improved community spaces on all floors.^[18] Phase I was completed in July 2010 with final renovations scheduled to be completed July 2011 and ready for students and staff for the Fall 2011 academic year.^[19] During the 2010-2011 academic year, Emmons hall was closed for remodeling and structure updates and is scheduled to resume operations in the Fall 2011 academic year.^[20] Bailey and Rather Halls renovations are scheduled to begin July 2011 with completion in May 2012.^[21] Eventually all of Brody's six residential halls will be renovated.^[22]

University Apartments

Michigan State owns and operates two apartment complexes, Spartan Village and Cherry Lane. A third complex, University Village, underwent recent redevelopment. When it reopened in August 2007, it offered new apartment-style housing for upper-level undergrads. The University owns in total 1,800 one- and two-bedroom apartments.^[23] Beginning in the Summer of 2011, Michigan State University will begin demolition of the Cherry Lane and Faculty Brick Apartments with completion scheduled for November 2011. No redevelopment plans have decided as of yet.^[24]

Notes

1. ^ Kiernan, Vincent. "Michigan State Asks Students to Turn Off Their Computers Over Winter Break". The Chronicle of Higher Education. January 2, 2003. Accessed April 13, 2007.
2. ^ "Building Data Summary". MSU Physical Plant. 2004. Accessed April 12, 2007.
3. ^ "Michigan State University: Campus Life". The Princeton Review. 2005.
4. ^ ^{a b c} http://artmuseum.msu.edu/wpa/WPA/pages/campbell.htm
5. ^ ^{a b} https://www.msu.edu/~msuarhc/buildingexhibit.htm
6. ^ ^{a b} http://www.msusaf.com/Campus_Tours/2006_walking_tour.pdf
7. ^ ^{a b} Michigan: A Guide to the Wolverine State by Federal Writers' Project
8. ^ http://www.uh.msu.edu/livingon/west.html
9. ^ http://www2.lib.msu.edu/about/history.jsp
10. ^ ^{a b c d} "The Women of West Circle". MSU Archives. Wordpress. http://msuarchives.wordpress.com/2011/03/15/the-women-of-west-circle/. Retrieved 22 March 2011. 
11. ^ "Mayo Hall". MSU Campus Living Services. http://liveon.msu.edu/west/mayo. Retrieved 23 March 2011. 
12. ^ [1] MSU campus/halls 4/30/07
13. ^ East Complex campus/halls 4/30/07 Michigan State
14. ^ South complex campus/halls 4/30/07
15. ^ South complex South Complex renovations
16. ^ [2] Brody
17. ^ Hayhoe, Beau. "Changes to Brody draw student interest". State News. http://www.statenews.com/index.php/article/2011/02/changes_to_brody_draw_student_interest. Retrieved 5 May 2011. 
18. ^ [3] Planning Brody Hall
19. ^ [4] Brody Hall
20. ^ [5] Emmons Hall
21. ^ [6] Both Bailey & Rather Hall
22. ^ [7] Future of Brody
23. ^ Apartments of Michigan State Housing MSU 4/30/07
24. ^ [8] Cherry Lane Demolition