Angell Hall, one of the Ann Arbor campus’ most iconic academic buildings and home to the Fishbowl — a popular student study space — was developed in the 1920s to address overcrowding on campus.

At the time, U-M’s old University Hall (demolished in 1950) could no longer contain the growing LSA, and classes were being held in other buildings or canceled altogether, much to the dismay of faculty and students.

President Marion Burton initiated an expansion plan that included building Angell Hall, Yost Fieldhouse, the William Clements Library and the Law Quadrangle. For these efforts, Burton was later coined “Burton the Builder,” though he died in 1925 before his building plans fully came to fruition.

Angell Hall would be situated along State Street, and to coordinate with nearby buildings, including Hill Auditorium, Detroit architect Albert Kahn designed the new structure in a classic style. The hall’s blend of Greek and Roman architecture includes eight Doric columns, similar to those on a Greek temple, and a façade adorned with images of Greek mythology.

An inscription above the pillars of Angell Hall reads: “Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.”

This passage, from the Northwest Ordinance, is a declaration of free, universal public education, and some have called it the “birth certificate” of the University of Michigan.

The 152,000-square-foot building was completed in 1924 at a cost of just over $1 million — and was named for James Burrill Angell, U-M president from 1871 to 1909. The building’s auditoriums were added in 1952.

Today, Angell Hall is home to LSA classes and offices — and serves as a warm (or cool) respite for students, staff and faculty as they traverse Central Campus.

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• It Happened at Michigan
• James B. Angell