Hill Residence Hall

Building Name

Hill Residence Hall

Description

The Hill-Hoyt-Pittman complex was constructed in 1969 to house ever-growing numbers of students at the university. The University financed the $6.25 million project through the sale of self liquidating bonds. Standing 11-stories tall, the residence halls in the complex stand taller than anything on or near campus except the city water tower at Cross and Washtenaw. Designers built the residence halls to house a total of 1,404 students. Hill and Hoyt were originally dedicated to women while men lived in Pittman. Like many of the other campus dormitories, the buildings surround a courtyard. The fourth side of the court is closed by the Conference Center which contains the Eagle Market and Einstein's Brothers Bagels. As of 2024, Hill is no longer utilized as a residence hall.

Namesake Biography

Susan Burch Hill was born February 6, 1905, in Colfax, Wisconsin. Hill earned her bachelors degree from the University of Minnesota and masters degree from the Teachers College at Columbia University. She also studied at Edinburgh University in Scotland and the University of Michigan. Hill held a number of titles before coming to Eastern Michigan University in 1939. Her titles included high school teacher, girls adviser and Assistant Dean at the Iowa State Teachers College. While at EMU, she served as the dean of students, and also served on the Ypsilanti City Council from 1958-1962. She was an active member in many professional and civic organizations including the American Association of University Women, Delta Kappa Gamma, and the Michigan Association of Women Deans and Counselors. Upon her retirement from EMU, she lived in East Sandwich, Massachusetts, and spent nearly every winter in Naples, Florida. Susan Hill died of a stroke on Monday, March 26, 1990, in Naples, Florida.

Building Namesake

Susan B. Hill, Dean of Women, 1929 - 1962, Dean of Students, 1962 - 1969

Year Constructed

1968

Date Dedicated

24 October 1969

Building Functions

Residence Hall and Conference Center

Architect

K.F. Leinninger Associates, Birmingham, MI

Original Cost

$6,250,000

Architectural Style

International

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).