Hill Auditorium renovation project gets $2 million gift

ANN ARBOR—A $2 million gift from the Elizabeth E. Kennedy Fund gives a wonderful boost to the renovation of historic Hill Auditorium, at the University of Michigan. The gift will support the construction and furnishing of the Lower Lobby of the campus landmark which will be named the Elizabeth E. Kennedy Lobby. The project will begin in May 2002 and will take 18 months to complete.

The family interest in the U-M extends back through several generations. Elizabeth Kennedy’s parents, Harry Boyd Earhart and his wife Carrie Beal Earhart, were Ann Arbor philanthropists who actively supported the University. H.B. Earhart was made an “Honorary Alumnus” in 1932. Elizabeth Earhart, their daughter, attended the University during her junior year of college and while on campus she was involved in university activities. After her marriage to James A. Kennedy (U-M Law, JD, 1936) they established residence in Ann Arbor and began attending the concert series at Hill Auditorium. That steady concert attendance continues today, a tradition carried on by their two sons, David and Jim.

The EEK Fund was established in 1954 by Elizabeth Kennedy and is devoted to improving the human condition throughout the state of Michigan, providing funds for education, health issues, and the environment. Over the years, the U-M has benefited on a number of fronts: Clements Library, Bentley Historical Library, Gerald R. Ford Library, as well as the Center for the Education of Women, the Health System and the University Musical Society. Mrs. Kennedy served as President of the EEK Fund until stepping down in 1993.

In 1988, when the May Festival celebrated the 75th anniversary of Hill Auditorium, Elizabeth Kennedy and her sister, Louise Raphael, joined other donors in providing substantial support for the Festival, making it the only time the artists’ fees were underwritten entirely by private donations. She continued her strong support of UMS throughout her active years with the EEK Fund.

In commemoration of her long-time love of music and the opportunity to enjoy world-class performances in Ann Arbor, the Board of Trustees of the Elizabeth E. Kennedy Fund felt that a major gift to assist the renovation of Hill Auditorium would be an appropriate tribute to the woman whose vision and action has made many things possible. The creation and naming of the lower lobby will serve as a reminder to all those who benefit from her generosity.

UM’s historic Hill Auditorium to undergo $33.5 million renovation

ANN ARBOR—Plans are underway to begin construction on the most significant investment in the history of Hill Auditorium, one of the University of Michigan’s most venerable buildings.

The structure, an integral part of the University and the community for 88 years, is slated to undergo improvements that will preserve its architectural history and enhance the experience of performers and audiences, as well as replace or update the aging infrastructure. The Regents will be asked to approve the renovation project at their meeting June 21-22.

The project, expected to take 18 months, will begin May 13, 2002, and will cost $33.5 million, said Robert Kasdin, UM executive vice president and chief financial officer. The bulk of the work and expense involves less apparent improvements, such as removing asbestos and lead paint, upgrading heating/ventilation systems and mechanical/electrical infrastructure, installing air-conditioning, and addressing code issues, Kasdin said. More visible alterations will include elevators, additional restrooms, ramps for barrier-free access, and restoration of historically significant areas and components.

Named for UM Regent Arthur Hill, who bequeathed $200,000 to the University “for the erection of an auditorium for the gathering of the students and college body, and their friends, on large occasions such as graduating exercises and musical festivals,” Hill Auditorium was built at a cost of $282,000, unequipped. Since its dedication in 1913, it has undergone few significant renovations.

This $33.5 million first phase of the refurbishing and preservation of Hill, which will not address all needs of the building, is being partially funded with $2.8 million in donor contributions to the capital campaign that ended in September 1997. Prior to embarking on Phase Two renovations, which include lower-level reception space, backstage renovations, and new upper-level seating, the University will seek additional funding from outside sources.

“Hill Auditorium is a critical piece of the fabric of this community and an important historical building. We are obliged and privileged to make a major commitment to Hill,” Kasdin said.

“In this first phase, we seek to address maintenance issues that have been deferred for generations and to significantly enhance the audience’s experience. As funds become available over time, the master plan for Hill will be completed, with more appropriate backstage facilities for performers and the completion of those remaining needs that cannot be addressed at this time.”

When it opened in 1913, Hill Auditorium was hailed as a “monument to perfect acoustics.” The excellent acoustics, a result of collaboration by architect Albert Kahn with noted acoustical engineer Hugh Tallant, are known world-wide and have made the auditorium a favorite venue for legions of famous musicians and other artists, as well as numerous noted speakers.

Careful attention will be given throughout the renovation to maintaining the acoustic quality of Hill, said Henry Baier, associate vice president for facilities and operations. In addition, further work will be done to reduce street and lobby noise by building a “sound lock” between the lobby and the auditorium.

Repairs and renovations in Hill Auditorium, like the original plans for the building, are being designed and supervised by Albert Kahn Associates, along with Quinn Evans/Architects.

“The main thrust of the new project is stewardship,” Baier noted. “We must ensure the integrity of the building, its safety, and its barrier-free access.”

The existing structure is, according to architects, “generally in good condition for its age, use, and environment.” In addition to crucial infrastructure improvements, the improvements recommended by the architects respond in many ways to changes in how the building is used today, as compared to how it was used when constructed in 1913.

Rackham Auditorium, one of the UM’s other large auditoriums, is currently closed for renovations. Because work on the Rackham Building will be completed in September 2002, the Hill Auditorium project will overlap with Rackham’s closing only during the summer months of 2002.

Although the temporary loss of performance space in Hill presents challenges to the School of Music, the University Musical Society (UMS), and other groups that regularly use the auditorium, Karen Wolff, dean of the School of Music, is optimistic. “Faculty and students of the School of Music are delighted that plans for Hill Auditorium are going forward,” she said. “We anticipate with great eagerness the improved comfort of our audiences and are pleased that this historic building will remain viable as a major music venue well into the future.”

UMS Director Kenneth C. Fischer is confident that the quality of programming in the 2002–03 season will not be altered by the closing of Hill. UMS will consider a range of options.

“We’ve been using 12 different sites in recent years, including Eastern Michigan University’s Convocation Hall and the Detroit Opera House,” Fischer said. “Although UMS may have to consider doing fewer events during Hill’s closing, we are working together with the School of Music and the Major Events Office to assure that traditional annual programming will be maintained and that the quality of presentations will remain at the same level as in the past.”

Said Beverley Geltner, board chair of UMS, “Since 1913, Hill Auditorium has been a unique architectural and cultural treasure of the University of Michigan, the City of Ann Arbor, and the millions of citizens who have enjoyed its unforgettable artistic, intellectual and civic offerings. We applaud the decision by the University to renovate and expand Hill Auditorium so that it may continue to serve as one of the world’s finest concert halls.”