Central Campus Classroom Building (CCCB) and Alexander G. Ruthven Building
Uniting Learning and Leadership on Michigan’s Central Campus
On the east edge of the University of Michigan’s central campus, two interconnected projects—the new Central Campus Classroom Building (CCCB) and the renovation of the historic Alexander G. Ruthven Building—addressed three longstanding challenges: a shortage of large instructional spaces, a beloved landmark in need of repurposing, and a university administration physically and symbolically removed from the student population. Through a collaboration between HED and SLAM, the university gained both a forward-looking classroom hub and a renewed historic anchor, together forming a new academic gateway for generations of students and faculty.
The CCCB, conceived as a “learning loft,” adds 100,000 square feet of modern instructional space in the heart of campus. For years, Michigan had lacked large classrooms that could support active learning and new instructional methods. The CCCB resolves this gap with 1,400 student seats across a variety of configurations: a 550-seat auditorium, a 200-seat classroom in the round, and several flexible, high-tech classrooms designed for team-based and collaborative learning.
Right-sized volumes and uncluttered floor areas allow technology-rich instruction to flourish, while generous circulation and social spaces encourage informal interaction outside of class.
Architecturally, the classroom building is designed to stand confidently while respecting its historic neighbor. Composed of limestone, granite, and terra cotta, its cadence of columns and glazed openings creates a rhythm that is powerful in scale yet deferential to Ruthven’s classical character. Together, the two buildings frame a new edge to central campus, inviting students into a learning environment that merges tradition with innovation.
Just steps away, the Ruthven building renovation breathes new life into a cherished landmark. Once home to the university’s natural history museum, Ruthven now houses the university’s administration. The renovation preserved signature features—the iconic rotunda and the soaring double-height museum hall—while transforming other areas into functional office space, computational research environments, and collaborative zones that encourage interdepartmental dialogue.
By relocating leadership to the heart of campus, the project physically reconnects administration with students, faculty, and daily academic life.
Both projects emphasize flexibility, sustainability, and community. LEED Gold certification reflects the university’s commitment to environmental stewardship, while daylight-filled classrooms and social zones reinforce well-being and collaboration. By placing classrooms, offices, and shared spaces side by side, the projects break down barriers between disciplines and departments, fostering an environment of openness and exchange.
Now serving nearly 10,000 students each day, the CCCB and Ruthven together redefine the east gateway to campus. Recognized with a 2024 AIA Michigan Masonry Award, the work balances preservation and innovation, creating a dynamic learning and administrative center. For Michigan, these projects are investments in a future of academic excellence, collaboration, and community.
