Campus Beautification

Giving Day contributions of every size make a major difference! Support one of these projects today or give to another area that helps maintain and improve Wayne State's campus.

State Hall Renovation 

Most Wayne State students have had at least one class in State Hall since it opened in 1947. Approximately 73% of Wayne State students use State Hall each semester, and more than 90% of students have at least one class in State Hall before they graduate. But thanks to State Hall's ongoing renovation, many of those students might not recognize the building when it reopens in fall 2023! 

The fully renovated State Hall will feature new classrooms, lecture halls, meeting and lounge spaces, a reflection room, lactation room, and all-gender restrooms. Because the building is very important to many people on campus, the Facilities, Planning & Management team met with faculty and students to see what they wanted in the building before beginning the renovations. State Hall is a classroom building first, but the goal is to give students the ability to spend time there outside of classes.

State Hall is also important to alumni and has hosted many memorable moments in campus history, including a lecture by Malcolm X. In addition, it holds historical and architectural significance for Wayne State. Suren Pilafian, the architect, also designed several other buildings for the university and had a sizable influence on how the campus looks and feels. State Hall will have many new features, but also maintain many of the old architectural features.

This Giving Day, we invite you to make a gift to support the ongoing maintenance and beautification of this cherished Wayne State building!

DeRoy Reflecting Pool Restoration

The Helen L. DeRoy Auditorium and Reflecting Pool were designed by famed architect Minoru Yamasaki in 1964. The DeRoy Auditorium is one of four buildings Yamasaki designed and built at Wayne State between 1955 and 1964. These include the National Historic Landmark-designated McGregor Memorial Conference Center, the Education Building, and the Prentis and DeRoy Auditorium buildings, which comprise a two resource National Register-listed historic district. The use of reflecting pools was a key element in Yamasaki’s design aesthetic as they helped to create an urban oasis for visitors to enjoy moments of peace and beauty. The designs for the McGregor Center and the DeRoy Auditorium both included reflecting pools; the McGregor Center pool was restored in 2012-13, but the DeRoy Auditorium pool was drained in the 1980s and has sat empty for approximately 40 years. 

Facilities Planning and Management has engaged historic preservation consultants to develop plans to repair and restore the DeRoy Reflecting Pool. The pool has a long history of deterioration and cracking, resulting in water leakage and various instances of surface patching over the years. Multiple investigations confirmed that improper bonding of concrete stemming from the original 1964 construction compromised the pool structure’s capacity to retain water and withstand freeze-thaw cycles. In the 1980s, Wayne State drained the pool after leakages became untenable and began affecting basement classroom and mechanical spaces. 

This project will mitigate water infiltration and remove and replace the deteriorating pedestrian bridges and plazas. In addition, we are exploring options to include an accessible ramp to the lower plaza in order to encourage and allow everyone to experience this architectural gem and cultural destination in Midtown Detroit.

Achieve your charitable goals and create your WSU legacy with a gift in your estate plan. 

Wayne State faculty and staff can give via payroll deduction here.