This day in history: ongoing construction of North Art Studio in 1975
On Oct. 24, 1975, Central Michigan Life reported on the ongoing construction on a new art building on campus. The North Art Studio, which still to this day stands on the corner of Washington and Preston Streets, is a one-story A-frame structure which occupies about 13,000 square feet. It was built for instructional programs in sculpture and ceramics, and was meant to replace those facilities in Ronan and Pearce Halls. Its construction was 30 days behind schedule.
The building cost about $650,000 and was financed through a $200,000 gift from the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow foundation of Midland and also a $150,000 donation from the Kresge foundation of Troy. Remaining cost was covered through the university’s One-Point Five campaign.
Anthony Paparella, the architect for the university, said the building was the first phase of the consolidation of the art department on campus. Eventually an entrance was added that would directly connect it to Wightman Hall.
Paparella also discussed the construction of a planned industrial education building to be built directly east of the site of the now demolished Washington Apartments. The building was to be completed in five years and create space in Wightman for the expansion of the art department.
