U-M's Delta Upsilon plans to restore Albert Khan house

Wednesday, January 27, 2010 | Source: Concentrate

Another one of Ann Arbor's Hill Street beauties is about to become, well, beautiful again. Or, at least, that's the plan. Delta Upsilon is moving forward with renovating its chapter house at the University of Michigan.

The fraternity owns 1331 Hill St., a grand Tudor-revival structure accentuated by exposed timbers on the outside surrounded by stucco. Its interior is resplendent with ornamental woodwork, plaster and Pewabic tile. Read more about its history here.

The 107-year-old house is the handiwork of Albert Kahn and serves as one of the world famous architect's most notable work because it is one of the earliest surviving examples of his non-industrial, non-commercial work. Kahn is famous for designing such world-renowned buildings like the Ford Rouge Plant and the Fisher Building in Detroit and The Ann Arbor News building in downtown Ann Arbor.

The mansion burned about two years ago, suffering immense damage. Its future has been uncertain until recently. The fraternity is rebuilding the structure, although details about the project are not immediately know.

When work is finished, it will return to its place of prominence among a number of grand mansions that serve as homes to the university's Greek organizations. Many of those homes line Hill between State Street and just east of Washtenaw Avenue.

"We are very fortunate to have housing like this," says Mary Beth Seiler, director of Greek Life at the University of Michigan.

Although these buildings are magnificent to look at they do have their challenges. Most of them are about 100 years old and require extensive upkeep. Think of the home in the movie The Money Pit. Some Greek organizations also take better care of these mansions than others. However, these houses also serve as the beacon for alumni who once enjoyed the advantages that Greek life offers.

"It means a lot to the alumni to have something to come back to," Seiler says.

Source: Mary Beth Seiler, director of Greek Life at the University of Michigan
Writer: Jon Zemke