Boos for the Big House

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“It’s so ugly you might say the virtue of Corner House Lofts is that it hides that building,” laughs Bob Beckley. “But, seriously, it looks like it got lost in committee—like the university kept beating the architects down until they finally said ‘Let’s just do it, collect our check, and get out of town.’”

Mike Quinn, of nationally known restoration masters Quinn Evans | Architects, can’t suppress a sigh when asked about 202 Thayer: “Oh, boy. One of the bad things about Corner House Lofts is that it empowered the university to make a building just as tall right next to it. As for the building, the facade could have been more exciting with more detailing and windows. I find the entire building lacking in vision.”

“In general, the university does high-quality projects,” says John Mouat. “But not here. This looks like something put up in a hurry with a low budget.”

Only Roy Strickland, who directs the U-M’s program in urban design, has kind words for 202 Thayer—and even he hopes it will fade from view. “It’s a good corner building,” he says. “And when North Quad is finished across the street, it’s going to move from a foreground to a background building.”