The Diag

University of Michigan (1855) by Jasper Francis Cropsey, depicting a view of The Diag in 1847 from east to west.
From left to right: the Engineering Building (1839–1922), the President’s House (1839), the Medical Building (1848–1914), South College (1849–1950), and Mason Hall (1841–1950)

The Diag (/ˈdaɪ.æɡ/ DY-ag) is the oldest area of the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Originally referred to as the Diagonal Green, the Diag acquires its name from the multitude of sidewalks that traverse or border it in diagonal directions. Numerous historic buildings of the university are positioned in proximity to the Diag.

History

In April 2008, spring commencement ceremonies were held at The Diag, as Michigan Stadium was undergoing construction.[1] In April 2024, The Diag was one of the sites for the nationwide pro-Palestinian encampment.[2][3][4]

A hand-colored lithograph depicting a view of The Diag by Richard Rummell in 1907

Current buildings

Name Photograph Year Built Architect Description
President’s House (Southwest Professors' House)[5] 1839 Isaac Thompson and Harpin Lum (supervisors) One of four faculty residences which were the first structures built for the university on the campus.
Tappan Hall[5] 1893 Spier & Rohns
Samuel Trask Dana Building[5] 1901 Spier & Rohns
West Engineering Building[5] 1904 Mason and Kahn
Alumni Memorial Hall[5] 1908 Donaldson and Meier
Chemistry Building[5] 1910 Smith, Hinchman and Grylls
Edward Henry Kraus Building[5] 1915 Albert Kahn
General Library (Hatcher Graduate Library)[5] 1920 Albert Kahn Built on the site of the Old Library, the new library incorporated two fireproof bookstacks from the older building.
William L. Clements Library[5] 1923 Albert Kahn
Angell Hall[5] 1924 Albert Kahn
East Physics Building[5] 1924 Albert Kahn
Mason Hall (addition to the Angell Hall complex)[5] 1952 Smith, Hinchman and Grylls
Haven Hall (addition to the Angell Hall complex)[5] 1952 Smith, Hinchman and Grylls
Harold T. and Vivian B. Shapiro Library[5] 1958 Albert Kahn Associates
South Stacks addition to Hatcher Graduate Library[5] 1970 Albert Kahn Associates
Willard Henry Dow Laboratory (major addition to Chemistry Building)[5] 1988 Harley, Ellington, Pierce, Yee Associates
Harrison M. Randall Laboratory (major addition to East Physics Building)[5] 1995 Luckenbach/Ziegelman
Tisch Hall (addition to Angell Hall)[5] 1996 Albert Kahn Associates
Museum of Art Addition[5] 2008 Allied Works Architecture Inc.

Former buildings

Name Photograph In Use Architect Description
Old Engineering Building (Southeast Professors' House)[5] 1839–1922 Isaac Thompson and Harpin Lum (supervisors) One of four faculty residences which were the first structures built for the university on the campus
Northwest Professors' House[5] 1839–1914 Isaac Thompson and Harpin Lum (supervisors) Used as a hospital and classroom building for the Homeopathic Medical School, 1875-1890
Northeast Professors' House[5] 1839–1908 Isaac Thompson and Harpin Lum (supervisors)
Old Mason Hall[5] 1841–1950 Alexander Jackson Davis (assumed) Michigan's first instructional building on the Ann Arbor campus, Mason Hall was completed in 1841 and immediately occupied by the newly established College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. Its design inspired North Hall (1851) in Madison, Wisconsin. The architect is unknown, though the structure as built bears some resemblance to other of Alexander Jackson Davis' projects. Located on the Diag, at the current site of Angell Hall, it was demolishedin 1950.
Old Medical Building[5] 1848–1914 Silas H. Douglas (supervisor) Served as the main instructional building for the Medical School until the construction of the West Medical Building in 1903
South College[5] 1849–1950 Alexander Jackson Davis (assumed) Nearly identical to Mason Hall, from which it was separated by a space of 150 feet
Chemical Laboratory[5] 1856–1980 Albert Jordan
Law Building (Old Haven Hall)[5] 1863–1950 Spier & Rohns
University Hall[5] 1871–1950 E. S. Jennison
Romance Languages Building[5] 1880–1957 William Le Baron Jenney Housed the university's collections in anthropology and natural history until 1928 when the new Museums Building was constructed. Housed the Department of Romance Languages after 1928
Old Library[5] 1881–1918 Ware and Van Brunt
Engineering Shops Building[5][6] 1885–1956 Gordon W. Lloyd
West Physics Building[5] 1888–1966 Pond and Pond
Anatomical Laboratory[5] 1889–1903 Gordon W. Lloyd
Boiler House[5] 1894–1959 A. Harvey's Sons Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
Waterman Gymnasium[5] 1894–1977 E.W. Arnold
Barbour Gymnasium[5] 1896–1977 John Scott and Co.
North Hall[5] 1899–2014 Stanton and Kirby
Dental Building[5] 1908–1970 Donaldson and Meier

References

  1. ^ University of Michigan 2008 Graduation (Story and Video) | Michigan Today Archived 2008-05-25 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Warikoo, Niraj; Han, Junfu (April 24, 2024). "University of Michigan students set up tent encampment, demand divestment from Israel". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  3. ^ Tucker, Grace (April 26, 2024). "Why are college students protesting? Ohio State, Miami University join Gaza protests". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  4. ^ "VIDEOS: Police break up pro-Palestinian encampment at University of Michigan Diag; 4 arrested". WXYZ 7 News Detroit. 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al "A Chronology of University of Michigan Buildings, 1840-2022". bentley.umich.edu. Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  6. ^ "West Engineering Annex [Engineering Shops Building]".

42°16′36″N 83°44′19″W / 42.27666°N 83.73872°W / 42.27666; -83.73872

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.