Central HS, aka WSU Old Main

**Ray1936** · March-06-12, 04:17 PM

Stumbled on this photo of Central High School in 1907, which went on to become WSU's Old Main building. Interesting to copare it with the Google shot. Even the fire plug on the SW corner of Hancock and Cass is still there.

**Detroitnerd** · March-06-12, 04:38 PM

Yeah, those fire plugs are the last thing to come out. I can't count the times I've matched them to Sanborn maps or old photos to correctly identify where something was.

**astongraham** · March-08-12, 06:58 PM

what is a fire plug? If you are referring to fire "hydrants", most ALL people refer to them as fire "hydrants". Stop confusing people

**Gistok** · March-08-12, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by astongraham

what is a fire plug? If you are referring to fire "hydrants", most ALL people refer to them as fire "hydrants". Stop confusing people

Hydrant... Plug.... Bag... Sack... Pop.... Soda.... it all depends where you're from...

**Wheels** · March-08-12, 08:28 PM

Jus don't pak the carr in front of one.

**stromberg2** · March-08-12, 10:34 PM

Pretty snippy for a new forumer, I'd say.

Stromberg2

**Zacha341** · March-08-12, 10:58 PM

Ah yes Old Main - fantastic architecture. I was just there the other day.

**Gistok** · March-09-12, 01:23 AM

Agreed Zacha341.... but what the hell were they thinking when they put that bunker addition on it's SW side??

Ravine · March-09-12, 01:49 AM

Old Main is a gem. What a building.
Creep Factor 9 when it's near-empty, but cool anyway.

**Zacha341** · March-09-12, 06:04 AM

Department and classroom expansion...

Originally Posted by Gistok

Agreed Zacha341.... but what the hell were they thinking when they put that bunker addition on it's SW side??

**Gistok** · March-09-12, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

Department and classroom expansion...

Who would want to take a class in a cheerless bunker like this [[upper left)... it in no way relates to its' surroundings, in any way, shape or form.... nor does it respect the historic architecture of Old Main. Has to be one of the ugliest buildings at WSU [[of which there are a few)...

**Hardhat** · March-10-12, 12:04 PM

This was published in 1995 when the addition to Old Main was going up and when it's brick received a well-deserved cleaning. Some helpful photos follow.
Source: The Building Tradesman, official publication of the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council.

Just like the rest of us,

Old Main improves
with a vigorous shower

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By Marty Mulcahy
Editor
Old Main. New color.
That kind of sums up what the trades are finding as they wash away 100 years of grit and grime on the brick exterior of Old Main, the cornerstone building of Wayne State University in Detroit.
An ongoing $41.8 million renovation of the building on Second and Warren has revealed that the exterior brick on the building is actually a very striking yellow, as opposed to the smoky gray color that generations of students, faculty and passersby have seen.
""The exterior of this building has never been cleaned,'' said Steve Smith, foreman for Western Waterproofing, the contractor hired to clean the fascia brick. ""No one ever knew the real color of the brick because the pictures they took when the building was first built were in black and white. Everybody said "wow!' when we first started cleaning.''
Smith said Local 1 bricklayers are using a high-pressure, water-blasted chemical solution to clean the building. Some tuck pointing and stone patching is also necessary.
Cleaning the exterior is actually only a small part of this state-funded project, which will include demolition of one wing and construction of a new wing on the northeast corner of Hancock and Second. The new wing will include a recital hall, art gallery, orchestra and choral rehearsal room, rehearsal space for the Hillberry and Bonstelle theaters, and theater classrooms.
In addition, 45 general classrooms will be distributed throughout the building, which will also include a planetarium and practice studios for the performing arts. The project calls for updating the heating and electrical systems, and installing energy efficient windows and air conditioning.
The building will grow from 168,000 square feet of space to 188,000 square feet when renovations are complete. Ellis-Don Michigan Inc. is the project's general contractor, and Ghafari Associates Inc. in the architect-engineer.
Although structurally sound, Old Main is in poor condition. Built in 1896, it originally was Detroit Central High School. An addition was constructed around 1907, and in the mid-1930s, another section was added along Warren Ave. A final portion of the building was added onto the southwest corner in 1941.
University space planner David Barnett says Old main is badly in need of improvements, and most Wayne State students will tell you that they dreaded seeing ""Old Main'' as the location of their class during course registration time.
""Things have been upgraded here and there, but pretty much what you see is what you've got,'' he said. ""It used to house libraries and the dean's offices, but things moved around after World War II and postwar expansion.''
The trades are in the process of gutting Old Main, including the removal of asbestos. Renovations will begin in earnest in late fall.
""We're trying to maintain the historic nature of the building so it looks like it did in its prime,'' said Barnett. Classes previously held in the building will be moved to other parts of the campus. Refurbishing the structure is not a new idea. Barnett said administrators were studying the problems_ which include being unable to get from one side of the building to the other on certain floors_ in the early 1960s.