The University of Michigan’s President’s Residence is a unique facility on campus as it not only serves as the personal residence of the president and family, but also hosts more than 70 events each year. Built in 1840 at 4,800 square feet, the President’s Residence has had four significant additions between 1864 and 1933, increasing its size to 14,000 square feet. It is the oldest building on campus – and among the oldest in the community – and the only surviving structure on the original 40-acre site known as the Diag.
The 5,100 square feet on the ground floor of the residence serves as a gathering place for the university community and is used to host a variety of events, including open houses to welcome new students and student organizations, faculty honoree events such as the Arthur Thurnau Professorships, special guests for commencement activities, and numerous informal meetings and gatherings. An additional 5,200 square feet of private residential space is located on the second and third floors, and the floorplan has largely remained unchanged structurally for decades.
We have unique opportunities to perform major renovations during the periods of transition between university presidents while the house is unoccupied. The university’s investments over the past two decades have been underfunded resulting in a significant accumulation of deferred maintenance and necessary updates.
This project will address essential ADA and accessibility upgrades for the public ground floor as well as improving capacity for events to enhance functionality of the living space for the private residence space, and updates that support safety and security. The upgrades will preserve historical features of the home, including the hardwood flooring, library with full wall bookcases, moldings and other woodwork throughout the home, and exterior. The house is listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places.
The ADA and accessibility upgrades to the ground floor public areas include an ADA-compliant bathroom, a rebuilt outdoor patio with ramp access from the ground-level, new west entrance, new exterior doors and improved connection between the sunroom and the patio.
The project scope includes updating safety and security features with additional and updated fire suppression, fire detection and alarm, and security system. Additional deferred maintenance includes repair of interior plaster, exterior stucco, interior and exterior painting, floor refinishing, gutters, trim, built-in energy efficient lighting, infrastructure technology, displays, landscaping, and other maintenance that has accumulated over time. We also propose creating an open kitchen and dining space on the second floor of the residential living area.