Gary M. Owen College of Business

Item

Building Name
Gary M. Owen College of Business
Description
Beginning in 1911, the Board authorized a Business Education Degree at the Michigan State Normal School. By 1929 the school offered a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. The College of Business (COB) moved to its current location in 1991. Today, the COB serves approximately 3,400 students. The COB offers thirteen majors and minors and five graduate degrees, and thirteen graduate certificate programs. The COB was initially located south of the main campus closer to downtown Ypsilanti, but returned to the main campus in 2019. At one point, students were able to take a shuttle from the main campus to the COB one way in under five minutes.
Namesake Biography
Gary M. Owen (b. 1944) was born in Lawrence County, Alabama on September 9, 1944. A Democrat, Owen served as a member of the Michigan state house of representatives 22nd District from 1973-88. Additionally, Owen served as speaker of the Michigan State House of Representatives from 1983-88.
Building Namesake
Gary M. Owen, Michigan Speaker of the House (D)
Year Constructed
1988
Date Dedicated
22 March 1991
Building Functions
College of Business
Architect
Dow, Howell and Gillmore Associates, Midland, MI
Builder
Kajima International / Palermo Construction (Joint Venture Partners)
Original Cost
$17,500,000
Architectural Style
Michigan Modern
Square Footage
122,000
Rights
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for educational uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the owner, Eastern Michigan University Archives (lib_archives@emich.edu).