Connecting Present with Past

The Lorch Column Project

To memorialize Emil Lorch's seminal role in founding and establishing the University of Michigan College of Architecture as one of the country's first and finest, and to celebrate its centennial, the Taubman College of Architecture and Planning has erected a column. The marble column has been relocated from the courtyard of Lorch Hall—the old Art & Design Building on Central Campus—to the front of the Art & Architecture Building on North Campus, which has been home to the college since 1974.

The seven foot wide and 20 foot tall truncated column has been restored to its original height by inserting a contemporary steel armature, which will raise its Neoclassical "Composite" capital to 55 feet above the entrance plaza to the building. The column rises from a large new concrete base designed and landscaped by Peter Osler, grandson of Dean Lorch, who has been an associate professor of practice at the college and is moving to the Illinois Institute of Technology to direct a new program in Landscape Architecture.

To be dedicated at 1:00 pm in a brief public ceremony on Friday, October 12 at Homecoming, the project completes the college centennial celebrations, which was celebrated last year with a number of conferences, other events and publications.

The design and construction of the column has been underwritten by alumni donations. Henry Ruifrok, B.Arch.'38 and Dan Swartz, B.Arch.'71 have each made lead gifts of $50,000 or more. A plaque will be installed to recognize the major donors and the design team. Donations of any size are still being accepted.

The Neoclassical column—from an insurance company's building in Newark, New Jersey—was presented to the University by Colonel William A. Starrett, B.S.C.E. 1897, D.Eng. (hon.) in 1931 for use by its art and architecture students. Starrett was general contractor for the Empire State Building and responsible for its record-making construction pace (completed in one year and 45 days).


Project Team


Donors to Lorch Column Project

$50,000-99,999

  • Henry Ruifrok
  • Daniel B. Swartz

$10,000-$14,999

  • Constance L. and David W. Osler

$1,500-2,499

  • Doris E. Bassett
  • Kathleen Nolan and Douglas Kelbaugh

$1,000-$1,499

  • Frederick H. Graham
  • Robert and Bettie Metcalf

$500-999

  • Frank Lee Cochran
  • Robert S. and Janet M. Swanson

$250-499

  • Gene and Jane Hopkins
  • Ross Bechaud Petrie

$100-249

  • Mr. and Mrs. Joseph E. Appelt
  • Ralph and Lynda Bergsma
  • Tracey D. Wentz and Charles Blackmer
  • Mr. and Mrs. James D. Budd
  • Charles W. Cole, Jr.
  • Staff of Comerica*
  • Ronald and Patricia Due
  • Mr. and Mrs. Daniel L. Dworsky
  • Robert E. Fraley
  • Integrated Staffing Solutions, Inc.*
  • Ann and Donald Kelley
  • Dennis and Nancy Kelly
  • Roger P. Lang
  • Keith A. Larson
  • William W. Lyman
  • Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Powell
  • David Probst
  • Gregory T. Schiller
  • Gary L. Skog
  • Richard G. Snyder
  • David and Carlin Stockson
  • Bernard L. and Deanna Van Antwerp*
  • Ann K. Warren*
  • Mr. and Mrs. William D. Waterston
  • Richard and Michelle Yaste

$1-99

  • Dorothy Balogh
  • W. Calvin Bowne, Jr.
  • David Lee Brininstool
  • William B. Campbell
  • A. Samuel Dorchen
  • David F. Dye
  • Robert E. Farr
  • David H. Ferguson
  • Paulette and Robert Giroux*
  • Arthur and Caroline Held
  • Nancy Hsu
  • Roger E. and Audrey J. Hunt
  • Ellwood Irish
  • Jeffrey Alan Klum
  • Howard and Ruby Kuhl
  • Charles Lauzon
  • George E. and Linda M. Lilly
  • Donald and Erica Lindow*
  • Phillip John Luth
  • Francis B. O'Shea
  • Thomas S. Pearson
  • Carl W. Pirscher
  • Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Standish, Jr.*
  • Robert Roy Tinker
  • Alfred Tobocman
  • Mark E. VanFaussien*
  • Colton and Deborah Weatherston
  • James O. Willard

*gifts made in memory of Henry W. Ruifrok