A single concrete column. That’s how it began. The cornerstone of what would become the country’s largest school of education. This is the Education Building at Wayne State University in Detroit.
Imagine December 20 1959. Wayne State’s Board of Governors watched that column sink into the muddy ground. It represented the ambitious start of this dramatic modern building designed by the world-renowned architect Minoru Yamasaki. This was his second project on the campus adding another touch of splendor to the urban landscape.
The Education Building is four stories high with a full basement. It sits on a stepped rectangular pedestal. Its distinctive feature is a screen of sharply pointed triangular arch windows. These are divided by precast concrete columns that extend above the roofline. This creates an upward pull to the eye masking the building’s impressive size. The ground floor is deeply recessed forming a continuous arcade. The upper floors have deeply inset four-light aluminum sash windows. Unpolished gray plate glass screens the interior from outside view.
Inside the striking exterior gives way to efficiency. Each entrance leads to an open staircase. Elevators mechanical systems and bathrooms are centrally located on each floor. Classrooms and labs are accessible from hallways surrounding the core. On the upper floors classrooms are near the core. Offices line the outer walls along corridors. The fourth floor housed administrative offices and a central open lounge.
The interior used basic economical materials wood veneer asphalt tile and plaster. Yet it boasted advanced technology for its time. It included a two-way public address system intercoms and closed-circuit TV/radio capabilities. Many classrooms had adjacent psychological testing rooms. A 1960 description called it the most complete modern system of electronic educational aids in a building of its type.
The Education Building’s dedication in 1961 emphasized the connection between beauty and function. President Clarence B Hilberry spoke of the building reflecting the quality of work inside. Dean Francis C Rosecrance praised Yamasaki’s design. He linked the new building to the pursuit of liberty and freedom.
The building’s design reflects Yamasaki’s post-Asian and European travels. His design philosophy aimed for delight serenity and surprise. The Education Building’s triangular arches and turrets evoked Venetian Gothicism or a forest of concrete trees. It has also been called a wedding cake a playful comparison Yamasaki himself seemed to enjoy.
The building’s placement on a pedestrian mall was part of a larger campus restructuring plan. This plan followed World War II’s record enrollment surge. Yamasaki’s design incorporated light and shadow as design elements. The arcade’s changing silhouettes and the interplay of light and reflective surfaces throughout the day are notable features.
Initially the faculty offices along the outer walls proved problematic. The tall windows caused glare and heat. Many professors added curtains or paper to block the light. Today vertical slat blinds provide a uniform appearance echoing the exterior design. Despite a few updates the building remains largely intact. It continues to serve Wayne State’s Education program. This is more than just a building. It’s a testament to ambition innovation and the enduring pursuit of knowledge.