After nearly three years of preparation, the Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning returns to its original location at East University and Hill Street with a new building. The 11,000-square-foot Edward and Rosalie Ginsberg Building signifies a renewed focus on civic and community learning, inviting faculty, students, and community partners to engage. “We look forward to the many events in the year ahead that will welcome partners in to make the space their own — truly fulfilling our vision of a place where campus meets community,” said Neeraja Aravamudan, director of the Ginsberg Center.
The main floor of the Edward and Rosalie Ginsberg Building features plenty of seating and gathering spaces. (Photo by Eric Bronson, Michigan Photography)
On Sept. 26, an open house will offer the campus community its first chance to explore the new space and learn how to align their work with the center’s mission. For decades, the Ginsberg Center has been a hub for civic and community engagement, aligning teaching, research, and service with community needs. Its efforts encourage addressing social issues and developing leadership skills and a commitment to the public good.
The center’s new building is not just for current partners; it aims to attract new community stakeholders across campus. It is one of the first all-electric, carbon-neutral buildings on the Ann Arbor campus, featuring collaborative meeting rooms and flexible areas for partnership and dialogue. It includes indoor/outdoor spaces such as an education garden, in collaboration with the Campus Farm.
The Madelon Pound House on Central Campus has been replaced, but Madelon Pound’s legacy is remembered with a commemorative plaque in the new space. A $10 million donation from William and Inger Ginsberg, honoring William’s parents Edward and Rosalie, funded the construction. The Ginsbergs’ dedication to helping others and societal impact is a core value echoed in the new building.
“The building creates new opportunities to shape a future where all can thrive and partnership guides our actions,” Aravamudan said. “It stands as both a tribute to those ideals and an invitation for everyone to join in the work ahead.”
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