Alumni who return for their 50th class reunion in the fall will also return to a university whose physical presence has expanded far beyond the classrooms of the ‘70s. But even if you graduated in the ’80s, ‘90s, or ’00s, there’s no doubt LTU’s campus is quite different today.
On-campus living
In 1977, LTU created the aptly named South Residence Hall on the south side of Ten Mile Road. But it was not until 2002 that Lawrence Technological University added North Residence Hall on the other side of the road.
Today, that hall is known as the Edward Donley Residence Hall after a name change in 2016 to honor an esteemed alumnus; after achieving great success in the public and independent sectors, Donley established a scholarship program to help talented students gain access to LTU’s innovative education.
In 2015, LTU built a third residence hall, named after former General Motors president Lloyd E. Reuss, who served on LTU’s Board of Trustees and as board chair. A few years later, East Residence Hall was added to campus, thanks to the design efforts of InForm Studio, a design studio founded by LTU alumni. (East Hall would go on to win an Architectural Honor Award from AIA Detroit.)
Buell building and athletic facilities
A few other notable buildings include the 1982 Wayne H. Buell Building, dedicated to LTU’s third president and chairman of the board. Today, it’s home to the College of Business and Information Technology, Blue Devil Cafeteria, LTU’s Bookstore, the president and provost offices, the campus library, and a two-story enclosed atrium that plays host to events such as the Blue Devil Motorsports Unveiling and LTU’s career fairs.
The Don Ridler Field House was constructed in 1987 to meet the demand for an athletic facility. The 1500-seat gymnasium—named after a former college and NFL football player who served as LTU’s athletic director and led the university’s basketball team to the 1951 National Invitation Tournament—also serves as the site of LTU’s commencement ceremonies.
Another athletic facility, the 2300-seat Blue Devil Stadium, was completed in 2019, primarily for football, soccer, and lacrosse; notably, the women’s lacrosse team won the NAIA National Championship in 2023.
Thoughtful design
The A. Alfred Taubman Student Services Center (2006) is home to admissions, financial aid, career and academic services, and more. The building also won a notable “green award” in the form of LEED Silver certification for its sustainable design and operation.
The similarly named A. Alfred Taubman Engineering, Architecture, and Life Sciences Complex opened in 2016 and serves as a link to the future by providing advanced facilities for robotics engineering, biomedical engineering, life sciences, and several related programs.
Come back to campus!
Lawrence Tech is now home to over 20 buildings—some acquired, others built from the ground up. If you’re interested in seeing the many changes for yourself, please contact alumni@ltu.edu and we will set you up with a campus tour!
You may access a campus map here!
Many thanks to LTU historian Bruce Annett, whose history book served as a valuable resource. Thanks also to LTU alum Glen Reimer (’74, ’94) for his interest in this topic. If you have an idea for a story, please email phoughton@ltu.edu for consideration.
By: Pam Houghton
