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May 01, 2006
Letter to the Editor
Here is a letter to the editor from Sunday's Ann Arbor News urging the University to recycle to facade of the Frieze Building: "I am confident that those same University of Michigan administrators, regents, architects, engineers, construction managers and preservationists for whom we sing with such confidence, "Hail to the Victors valiant, hail to the conquering heroes,'' can save the architecturally significant facade of the Frieze Building and incorporate its historic character and defining features into a modern building that can safely and effectively meet current needs."
Archived below.
LETTERS
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Save Frieze facade for
a new, beautiful use
As a young child, I traveled from Jackson to Ann Arbor to watch my first performance of "A Midsummer Night's Dream'' in the auditorium of the Frieze Building. To my young mind, the majestic Frieze was the Parthenon! As Ann Arbor residents since 1969, our family has treasured the historic Frieze Building as a symbol of Ann Arbor's civic pride, a center of educational and cultural activity and a local architectural landmark on a corner it shares with some of the most beautiful buildings in Ann Arbor.
It is no doubt a challenge to use older buildings to meet today's needs, but I am confident that those same University of Michigan administrators, regents, architects, engineers, construction managers and preservationists for whom we sing with such confidence, "Hail to the Victors valiant, hail to the conquering heroes,'' can save the architecturally significant facade of the Frieze Building and incorporate its historic character and defining features into a modern building that can safely and effectively meet current needs.
When it acquired the Frieze Building, U-M also acquired a responsibility of stewardship to the people of Ann Arbor and to the citizens of Michigan. Save the Frieze facade. Incorporate part of the history and heritage of Ann Arbor into a new and beautiful use. We ask the university to do this on behalf of all of us.
Susan H. Patton, Ann Arbor
Posted by dfulmer at May 1, 2006 08:47 AM