University of Michigan
The Alexander G. Ruthven Museums Building is set to undergo a $150 million renovation and expansion.
The Alexander G. Ruthven Museums Building is set to undergo a $150 million renovation and expansion.
The Alexander G. Ruthven Museums Building is set to undergo a $150 million renovation and expansion.
The Alexander G. Ruthven Museums Building is set to undergo a $150 million renovation and expansion.
The Alexander G. Ruthven Museums Building is set to undergo a $150 million renovation and expansion.

University of Michigan's Ruthven Building will get $150 million renovation

Dec. 27, 2016
The building will receive its most significant upgrade since it opened in 1928.

The University of Michigan's Board of Regents has approved plans for a $150 million renovation of the Alexander G. Ruthven Museums Building on its Ann Arbor campus.

The university says the project will be the most significant renovation of the building since it was constructed in 1928.

The plans call for adding 100,000 square feet of space for active-learning classrooms and auditoria, and renovating 150,000 square feet of existing space. The renovated area will provide space for dry laboratories and the university's central administrative team, now housed in the Fleming Administration Building.

"The Ruthven project provides us with an opportunity to create contemporary classroom space in a prime, Central Campus location while preserving and reusing a landmark building," says Kevin Hegarty, executive vice president and chief financial officer.

Ruthven now is home to several programs, including the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, as well as the Anthropology, Natural History, Paleontology and Zoology museums.

When the nearby Biological Science Building is completed in the summer of 2018, most of the Ruthven occupants will be moved to the new building.

Funding for the Ruthven project will be provided from investment proceeds

The building was designed by architect Albert Kahn in 1928. In 1968, the regents named the building for Alexander G. Ruthven, the university's seventh president.

Sponsored Recommendations

How to design flexible learning spaces that teachers love and use

Unlock the potential of flexible learning spaces with expert guidance from school districts and educational furniture providers. Discover how to seamlessly integrate adaptive ...

Blurring the Lines in Education Design: K–12 to Higher Ed to Corporate America

Discover the seamless integration of educational and corporate design principles, shaping tomorrow's leaders from kindergarten to boardroom. Explore innovative classroom layouts...

Room to Learn: Furniture Solutions for Education

Preparing students for the future. Utilizing our experience in the education market, we offer a dynamic selection of products that pair technology with furniture to help stimulate...

Transforming Education: A Case Study in Progressive Classroom Design

Discover how Workspace Interiors and the Baldwin School District reshaped learning environments in Long Island, New York, creating pedagogically responsive spaces that foster ...