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McKenny Hall
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
McKenny Hall
Location	Ypsilanti, Michigan
Area	Eastern Michigan University campus
Built	1931
Architect	Frank Eurich, Jr.
Architectural style	Collegiate Gothic
Part of	Eastern Michigan University Historic District (PID24948)
NRHP reference No.	P24948
Added to NRHP	1984

McKenny Hall, previously called McKenny Union and Charles McKenny Union, was the first student union on the campus of the Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University) in Ypsilanti, Michigan. At various times the building has included bookstores, a bowling alley, a bank, a food court, a ballroom, and other social spaces for students. Today the building is known as McKenny Hall and is home to human resources, academic advising, and career services. After the new Eastern Michigan University Student Center opened in 2006, McKenny closed for renovations and structural preservation work. The building is located across from the famous Ypsilanti Water Tower on Cross Street and is a contributing property to the Eastern Michigan University Historic District.

History

Designed by Detroit architect Frank Eurich Jr. in an Art Deco style, construction of the McKenny Union began on November 8, 1930. Named for Charles McKenny, who served as the president of the Michigan State Normal College from 1912 to 1933, the building was dedicated on October 24, 1931 and was the first student union on the campus of a normal college.

President McKenny originally proposed the idea for a student union in 1924 and by 1928 the school had pledges totaling $350,000. However, due to the 1929 stock market crash and the Great Depression, only $130,000 was actually collected by 1930. This lack of funds lead to a change in the building's design. In 1937, the State of Michigan took control of bond repayment, drawing funds from student fees.

In 1963, an expansion by the architectural firm of Jickling & Lyman of Birmingham, Michigan began and the enlarged union, now featuring a bookstore in the basement and a bowling alley. The building was rededicated on April 30, 1966. From 1992 to early 1993, the union was again renovated, adding a new roof, a first floor bookstore, a loading dock, a passenger elevator, a bank, a food court, and barrier-free access.

In the early 2000s, Eastern Michigan began to develop concepts for the expansion of McKenny Union due to its limited space and services in comparison to the university's growing student population. These plans were later dropped due to the high cost of renovating the existing structure to meet the needs of the university. In November 2006, the new Eastern Michigan University Student Center opened on the north end of campus.

External links

• Virtual historic tour of EMU
• Chronological historic tour of EMU

See also

• Eastern Michigan University
• Ypsilanti, Michigan

References

1. ^ "NRHP EMU". NRHP EMU. Archived from the original on June 12, 2012.
2. "NHR in 1984". EMU McKenny Hall.
3. "Charles McKenny Hall Dedicated Today", The Ypsilanti Daily Press, October 24, 1931, retrieved February 12, 2011
4. German, Pamela; Robinson, Veronica (Spring 2009), "Charles McKenny Union: An EMU Icon" (PDF), Ypsilanti Gleanings, Ypsilanti Historical Society, pp. 14–15, archived from the original (PDF) on September 19, 2011, retrieved February 12, 2011
5. "Frank Eurich designs McKenny".
6. "Charles McKenny Hall Dedicated Today". The Ypsilanti Daily Press. October 24, 1931. Retrieved February 20, 2010.
7. ^ German, Pamela; Robinson, Veronica (Spring 2009). "Charles McKenny Union: An EMU Icon" (PDF). Ypsilanti Gleanings. Ypsilanti Historical Society. pp. 14–15. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 19, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2010.
8. "EMU Virtual Tour: McKenny Union". Eastern Michigan University. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2010.
9. Eastern Michigan University, ‘’Vital statistics Regarding Campus Buildings’’ August 24, 1964, document in EMU Archives.

v t e Eastern Michigan University
Located in: Ypsilanti, Michigan
Academics	Graduate School Honors College
Campus	EMU University sites University history Buildings on campus EMU Historic District Campus safety
Student life	EMU Student Center EMU housing WEMU WQBR The Eastern Echo
Buildings	Building list Halle Library Olds-Robb Rec/IM McKenny Hall Pease Auditorium Brinkerhoff–Becker House Sherzer Observatory Eagle Crest
Athletics	Teams Baseball Men's basketball Women's basketball Men's cross country Football Wrestling (defunct) Venues Bowen Field House George Gervin GameAbove Center Oestrike Stadium Rynearson Stadium Traditions Swoop
People	EMU presidents Kim Schatzel Notable faculty and alumni
Founded: 1849 Students: 23,419 Endowment: 67.2 million Category

• Buildings at Eastern Michigan University
• Student activity centers in the United States
• Art Deco architecture in Michigan
• Buildings and structures completed in 1930
• Eastern Michigan University
• Historic district contributing properties in Michigan
• 1931 establishments in Michigan
• National Register of Historic Places in Washtenaw County, Michigan
• University and college buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Michigan