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Wayne State University in the Cass Corridor
Wayne State University’s campus along Detroit’s Cass Corridor is home to buildings from a variety of eras, architects, and architectural styles. Some were constructed by the university to accommodate the needs of its growing student body, while others were purchased as the campus expanded, and adapted to the university's needs.
The first buildings constructed specifically for Wayne University were State Hall in 1946 and the Science Hall in 1949, when rectangular “International Style” architecture was in fashion. These were built under the campus master plan of Suren Pilafian. Pilafian originally worked under Cass Gilbert, the architect for the Detroit Public Library’s Main Branch. In 1942, after establishing his own firm, Pilafian won a competition to design Wayne State University’s expansion efforts, and was subsequently WSU’s campus architect for over a decade.
More major construction efforts came in the 1950s. Architect Minoru Yamasaki created a new master campus plan during this time, which included the construction of the McGregor Memorial Conference Center, the Education Building, the Prentis Building, and the DeRoy Auditorium. The Community Arts Building and Science Library were also constructed during this time. Yamasaki favored the International Style, combined with the design elements of “New Formalism." Later in his career, he would become world-renowned for his work on major buildings such as the World Trade Center in New York.
Created and renovated over the course of decades by dozens of campus officials, architects, and construction companies, Wayne State University's historic buildings help tell the stories of the individuals and organizations who have played a role in shaping the university's long history.
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Alumni House
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Art Building
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College of Nursing/Richard Cohn Building
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College of Education
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College of Engineering
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David Mackenzie House
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DeRoy Auditorium
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Lecture Hall
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Life Sciences Building
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Alex Manoogian Hall
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McGregor Memorial Conference Center
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Arthur Neef Law Library
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Old Main
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Purdy-Kresge Libary
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Science Hall
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Shapero Hall
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State Hall
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St. Andrew's Memorial Episcopal Church
Uniformed veterans walking towards Old Main, 1940s; A student-made float for Detroit's 250th anniversary, 1951
State Hall night classes, 1958; Students play cards in the Visitor's Center, 1970