University of Detroit History

[hybridy]

from 1928

[hybridy]

picture 7 shows six mile three blocks west of hamilton - those homes still stand 100 years later

[NSortzi]

Whatever happened to that large church on the McNichols campus pictured in the original post? Are there any photos of it? Or was it never built? I’m an alumni of UDM and never knew it had existed until recently. I’ve only seen it in drawings and old postcards, though.

[ASilvaman]

Where is this material located and how can I read more? This is by far the most interesting thing I've read in awhile and need to know more. My family lives in that area a greater party of 35 years. This kind of stuff captivates me.

[hybridy]

It was only ever a drawing. Gesu Church is the Catholic Chruch serving the neighborhood. Original U of D was likely meant to be part of neighborhood and not a gated campus.

[jcole]

Instead of that beautiful church they have that god forsaken sandstone administration building at the gates. I don't know WHAT possessed them to build that instead of trying to stay within the style parameters of the missionary design.
Not only is it ugly, now it's filthy

[hybridy]

Ah yes the Fisher Admin Bldg. Designed by Gunnar Birkerts in the 60’s. Was always explained to me that all the Spanish Mission legacy buildings were black from the soot of industrial Detroit hence the darker masonry buildings added to campus postwar.

That particular building was revolutionary at the time for a granite clad load bearing envelope and center core, thus all office space was column free and reconfigurable overtime - everyone could have access to daylight and views. Unfortunately the perimeter of the office floors is ringed with private offices.

As the oil crisis reared it’s ugly head, it became clear the singled glazed fixed envelope was extremely energy inefficient. Due to solar heat gain from the south - the building needs to be artificially cooled year round.

As a gateway to campus, it should absolutely be torn down - along with the residence quad and Ford Life Science IMHO.

The Student Union is also an absolute travesty in all ways. When/if I pay off my student loans, I would happily donate to fund a redux of Kassab Mall and a new Union.

UDM SOA ‘08

[hybridy]

Where is this material located and how can I read more? This is by far the most interesting thing I've read in awhile and need to know more. My family lives in that area a greater party of 35 years. This kind of stuff captivates me.

Enjoy - it’s easy to be sucked in

I recall paging through musty hardcopies as part of my work studies circa mid-00’s. 1924 & 1928 have amazing historical photos, including new streetcar extension to livernois/mcnichols. And then ‘48-60 show second wave of residence/student amenities.

The 1950 yearbook has a very intriguing Memorial Chapel design that was proposed to commemorate WW2. More edgy than what was eventually built.

http://libraries.udmercy.edu/archive...ear&letter=ALL

[jcole]

My daughter and her husband met there and graduated from UDM in '98 engineering program. We went there a lot to visit and drop off food and that Admin building made me cringe every time. Still does. I was in the Union a few times but it doesn't stand out in my mind much.

Ah yes the Fisher Admin Bldg. Designed by Gunnar Birkerts in the 60’s. Was always explained to me that all the Spanish Mission legacy buildings were black from the soot of industrial Detroit hence the darker masonry buildings added to campus postwar.

That particular building was revolutionary at the time for a granite clad load bearing envelope and center core, thus all office space was column free and reconfigurable overtime - everyone could have access to daylight and views. Unfortunately the perimeter of the office floors is ringed with private offices.

As the oil crisis reared it’s ugly head, it became clear the singled glazed fixed envelope was extremely energy inefficient. Due to solar heat gain from the south - the building needs to be artificially cooled year round.

As a gateway to campus, it should absolutely be torn down - along with the residence quad and Ford Life Science IMHO.

The Student Union is also an absolute travesty in all ways. When/if I pay off my student loans, I would happily donate to fund a redux of Kassab Mall and a new Union.

UDM SOA ‘08

[MikeM]

A little bit of history of the McNichols campus near the bottom of this thread:

Long City Blocks

[BMoo]

Are there photos missing from the original post?

[Corktown Mark]

A little bit of history of the McNichols campus near the bottom of this thread:

Long City Blocks

fantastic MikeM -- thanks for finding this

[hybridy]

Are there photos missing from the original post?

@BMoo

Six Mile, 3 blocks west of Hamilton, 1916
https://i.imgur.com/RFbiFU8.jpg

Six Mile, 3 blocks west of Hamilton, 2019
https://goo.gl/maps/iEnoagKUyd4Ut9Yy9

[bartocktoo]

instead of that beautiful church they have that god forsaken sandstone administration building at the gates. I don't know what possessed them to build that instead of trying to stay within the style parameters of the missionary design.
Not only is it ugly, now it's filthy

amen

[SFDS]

MikeM beat me to the punch on his own work. Excellent local history/geography research. I reviewed this material with friends a year or two ago. Great work and a rich history.

[masterblaster]

It was only ever a drawing. Gesu Church is the Catholic Chruch serving the neighborhood. Original U of D was likely meant to be part of neighborhood and not a gated campus.

On Google Maps Streetview, I was "cruising" around the campus of Butler University, a private religious school of similar age and student population and setting in a residential neighborhood of a large city [[Indianapolis), and it does not have any gates separating it from the neighborhood!