Architectural History
The First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor is located at 1432 Washtenaw Avenue between South University and Hill streets near the University of Michigan‟s central campus. The Church is situated on a gently rolling site and bounded by a residential community on the east, south, and west sides, with the South University commercial area nearby to the north. The main pedestrian approach is from Washtenaw Avenue to the Narthex entrance on the east elevation. A secondary pedestrian approach is via Forest Court, used by members who park in the Forest Street parking deck, as well as by students cutting through church property. Parking lots on the north and south sides of the church are accessible from Washtenaw Avenue; additional parking is available along the exit drive out to Hill Street. The site is landscaped with mature oak trees and planting beds around the Church perimeter, creating a lush, peaceful atmosphere.
The church building is representative of the Neo-Gothic architectural style. It has a steel superstructure on load-bearing clay tile masonry, and is clad with Indiana limestone ashlar veneer. The church and Lemon wing are topped by steep gable roofs that are finished with slate. The main entrance to the Church on the east elevation is marked by a tall blind arch with double doors beneath a large rose window. The north and south elevations of the Church feature pointed arch, stained-glass windows and stone buttresses. The three-story student activity (Lemon) wing has steel casement windows with leaded glass, and secondary entrances on the east and west elevations. The large south chimney serves stacked fireplaces, which are no longer use, whereas the large north chimney actively serves the steam boiler heating system.
The 1950s classroom (Kuizenga) wing is in the Modern architectural style, and built of concrete masonry units clad with Indiana limestone ashlar veneer. This wing has a flat roof, and single-pane, steel-framed, awning and fixed ribbon windows. Doorways on opposite sides at the second level provide accessible entrances from church parking.
The 1990s Monteith Hall addition reflects the Neo-Gothic architectural style of the original church. The exterior is finished with Indiana limestone ashlar veneer, stone buttresses, a gable roof with slate shingles, and aluminum casement windows.
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