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Building Name
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Sill Hall
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Description
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Sill Hall was designed to house the Fine and Industrial Arts programs in the high style of the 1960s. It cost approximately $1.5 million dollars to complete. The two-story wing designed for the Fine Arts Department included classrooms, studios, and offices. The one-story wing housed industrial arts classrooms including a variety of shop facilities and offices. In 2021, Sill Hall underwent a $40 million renovation in order to accommodate the expansion of engineering programs in the College of Engineering and Technology. In this renovation, Sill was also expanded by 16,000 square feet to support numerous collaborative lab spaces for the engineering programs.
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Namesake Biography
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John Mayhelm Barry Sill was born October 23, 1831, at Black Rock, in western New York. In 1836, Sill moved with his family in to the area of Jonesville, Michigan. In Jonesville, Sill helped on the farm and attended district school a few months out of the year. In 1847, the first union school in the state was established at Jonesville with A.S. Welch (see Welch Hall) as principal. Under Welch's instruction, Sill prepared for entrance into the University, while working to support himself. In the winter of 1849-1850, Sill taught his first school in the township of Scipio, Hillsdale County, receiving $60 for his winter work. He continued on with his studies and was an assistant teacher in the Jonesville School. When the Normal School was established in 1852, Prof. Welch was chosen its first principal and Mr. Sill accompanied him to Ypsilanti to pursue advanced studies. Sill was one of the first three persons who composed the first graduating class of 1854. Prior to graduation, Sill was appointed as a regular instructor having charge of the Model School and the Department of English, which is a position he retained until 1863, when he was chosen as superintendent of Detroit Public Schools. After two years as superintendent, Sill moved on to take charge of the Detroit Female Seminary, where he remained for the next ten years. From 1867-1870 he was a Regent of M.S.N.C., and in 1871, he was granted a Master of Arts degree. In 1875, Sill returned as superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools remaining in this position until 1886 when he was elected Principal of the State Normal School. Under his administration the prosperity of the school was marked, and the number of students increased to 1,000. In 1893, Sill resigned from his position as superintendent and was appointed Minister to Korea, where he represented the United States government. Prof. Sill returned to Detroit in 1897, ill with malaria he died at Grace Hospital four years later, on March 6, 1901.
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Building Namesake
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John Mayhelm Barry Sill, member of the first graduating class in 1854 and ninth president of Eastern Michigan University.
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Year Constructed
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1964
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Date Dedicated
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1965
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Building Functions
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College of Technology, Aviation Technology, Construction Management, Classrooms
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Date Renovated
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2021
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Architect
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Swanson and Associates, Bloomfield Hills, MI
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Original Cost
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$1,590,000
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Architectural Style
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International
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Square Footage
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84,400
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Rights
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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).
