Eastern Michigan University has won a Michigan Historic
Preservation Network's (MHPN) Government/Institutional
Award for its preservation of the University's core historic
campus. The award, a glass engraved plaque, was presented
to EMU President Susan Martin May 15 in Grand Rapids.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Ted Ligibel,
director
of EMU's Historic Preservation Program,
and EMU President Susan Martin flank Nancy
Finegood,
executive director of the Michigan
Historic Preservation
Network. Eastern Michigan
University recently received
a Michigan Historic
Preservation Network's
Government/Institutional
Award for its
preservation of the University's
core historic
campus. Photo by Amanda D. Davis
|
"I'm ecstatic. This award is validation that the reuse
of existing and historic buildings works in an economic,
environmental and cultural sense," said Ted Ligibel, professor
of geography and geology and director of the historic preservation
program. "It shows a certain level of sophistication to
understand the past and proves that reusing existing buildings
for new uses makes sense. It's a pathway to the past while
looking to the future."
During the last 20 years, Eastern has restored a number
of its core historic buildings on campus, and many are
listed in the National Register of Historic Places. EMU's
historic district includes Starkweather (1896), Welch Hall
(1896), Sherzer Hall (1903); Pease Auditorium (1914), and
McKenny Hall (1930-31).
Campus preservation is highlighted through annual preservation
programs and tours, and the University offers degrees in
historic preservation. EMU's Historic Preservation Program
received the Government/Institutional Award from the Network
in 2005 in recognition of 25 years of preservation education
in Michigan. The EMU program is the largest in the nation.
