Historic
Tour > Virtual Tour > Mark Jefferson Science Building
Mark Jefferson Science
Building
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Mark
Jefferson Building
(earlier)
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Mark
Jefferson Building
(present)
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Historic Name(s):
Mark Jefferson Science Building
Date
Constructed: Ground breaking late
1967. Dedicated October 24, 1969
Architect:
Einhorn, Yaffee Prescott, P.C.
Style of Architecture:
International
Original
Use: Science
building
Dates of Significant
Renovation:
1996: Chemistry labs
renovated along with
structural repairs
to the west side of
the building (brick
replacement). 2006:
Elevators upgraded.
Current
Use: Science
building
History:
EMU’s
continued growth during
the 1960s drove building
projects under Presidents
Elliott and Sponberg.
In 1967, Sponberg arranged
for the construction of
a new science building.
An appropriation from
the state legislature
provided the funds for
the $8.25 million building.
The new building contained
180,000 square feet of
space divided among five
stories plus a "penthouse"
and basement. It was
constructed of poured-in-place
concrete with exterior
walls of face brick with
stone trim. Inside, Mark
Jefferson was completely
air-conditioned. The
main floor contained four
lecture halls and six
large classrooms. Other
floors had modern laboratories
and other facilities
for research as well as
faculty offices, reading
rooms, and on the third,
a museum.
The building was named after Mark Jefferson,
Geography Department head,
1901-39. Jefferson
had received numerous distinguished awards for
his work as an educator and geographer. In 1918-19,
he was cartographer to the World War I peace
commission in Paris that negotiated the Treaty
of Versailles. A new state compulsory retirement
law forced Jefferson to retire in 1939. He died
in 1949.
When
it was built, the
Mark
Jefferson Science
Building was intended
to provide space for
crowded departments.
Initially, the
building would house
the Departments of
Chemistry, Biology
and Psychology. As
more new buildings
were completed, the
Psychology Department
would move to new
quarters, leaving
space that the Biology
and Chemistry departments
could use as they
grew.
Today,
the roof of the building
is home to a wireless
communications antenna.
It was built in 1997
by AT&T and is
invisible from the
ground.
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Location
of Mark
Jefferson Building
(Click on the image for a bigger view)
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