BUILDING MICHIGAN

Ground Broken for Kelsey Addition

Edwin (AB '33) and Mary Meader (both at right) of Kalamazoo led the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new wing of the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology at a May 11 celebration. The Meaders gave $8.5 million for construction of the William E. Upjohn Exhibit Hall, named for Mary Meader's father. The 17,000-square-foot addition will triple the Museum's exhibit space and provide study and storage areas. The existing facility will be renovated with climate control and lighting security. Joining the Meaders in the dig were (from left) Christopher Light, grandson of William E. Upjohn; Robert Meader, nephew of Edwin Meader; Timothy Light, Upjohn's grandson; LSA Dean Terrence McDonald; President Coleman; and Museum Director Sharon Herbert.

Art Museum Reaches Goal for Expansion and Restoration

An interior rendering of the Vertical Gallery
(Rendering ©2004-5 Allied Works Architecture)

Take down the Monets and the Whistlers.Wrap up the Tiffany pieces and the Asian sculptures—very, very carefully.

But only for awhile: The Museum of Art is getting a bigger and better home.

Last month the Museum attained its $35.4 million goal for expansion and restoration and met the fundraising terms of the prestigious $1.5 million Kresge Foundation challenge grant awarded last year. The Board of Regents approved final construction drawings for the historic project June 16, with groundbreaking scheduled for Sept. 14.

"We are enormously pleased and excited to have accomplished the first phase of the Museum's campaign, which provides for the building construction program," said Robert M. Bohlen of Brighton, Mich., who serves as volunteer chair of the Museum's campaign. "My wife Lillian and I are delighted to now help lead the next two phases of this effort—for growing the Museum's endowment so that its future is secured, and for bringing in some great new works of art in time for the opening."

Museum Director James Steward
(Photo by Steve Kuzma)

The Museum's campaign—part of The Michigan Difference—will continue, focused on increasing endowment and securing additional building and operational support.

"Without the commitment of so many individuals, corporations and foundations—in particular the Kresge Foundation—and of the University of Michigan, we simply could not have made it to this goal," said Museum Director James Steward.

The landmark project includes a 53,000-squarefoot addition to be named The Maxine and Stuart Frankel and the Frankel Family Wing, in honor of the Bloomfield Hills couple who gave $10 million to the project. Funding also came from many other donors, hundreds of whom were making their first gift to the Museum.

The Museum's longtime home, Alumni Memorial Hall, closed to the public June 25 to prepare for construction. Until fall 2008 the Museum will operate from a loft gallery at 1301 South University (at the corner of South Forest) called UMMA Off/Site. For details, visit http://www.umma.umich.edu/

A View from the Box Office (now under construction)

Robert and Pearson (AM '74, PhD '86) Macek and Janet (AB '56) and Bill (JD '56) Cassebaum (left to right), all of Ann Arbor, recently enjoyed a hardhat tour of the Charles R. Walgreen, Jr. Drama Center and Arthur Miller Theatre, which is rapidly taking shape on North Campus. The Maceks made a gift to name the theater lobby and are members of the campaign committee for the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. The Cassebaums chair the School's campaign to name seats in the theater and serve on the Ann Arbor Major Gifts Committee. To date, 30 seats in the 250-seat theater have been named with gifts or pledges of $10,000 per seat. Naming a seat is a terrific way to honor a friend or family member, or to celebrate your own love of theater. (Yes, that is the new box office to-be behind the couples.) For information on naming a seat, contact Maureen Schafer at (734) 763-9769 or schafema@umich.edu.