On Nov. 22, the University of Michigan, alongside various partners, relocated a piece of its history, marking another chapter in the legacy of its alumnus, Raoul Wallenberg. As a student, Wallenberg arrived from Sweden in 1931 to study architecture and lived in a modest two-story home at 308 E. Madison St. This house was significant, being the residence of a man credited with saving an estimated 70,000 lives during World War II. After his return to Europe, Wallenberg used his design skills to create protective “Schutz-Pass” passports, safeguarding Hungarian Jews from deportation and establishing safe houses.
In an effort to preserve Wallenberg’s former home, U-M approved relocating the structure to Jefferson and Division streets, adjacent to Arthur Miller’s former residence. This move also facilitates the Central Campus Residential Development, a project aiming to add new student beds. On the morning of the move, a well-coordinated team carefully transported the house through the streets, impressing local spectators with this historical relocation. Planning began in April 2025 with participation from Walbridge and several utility companies to ensure meticulous execution.
Readying the move
Months of preparation preceded the move, involving detailed coordination among university leaders and construction firms. Trudy Zedaker-Witte, senior project manager with U-M Architecture, Engineering and Construction, noted the house’s prior use as private student housing. “Once we found out it was Wallenberg’s house, we immediately started making the plans to get this moved so we could save it,” she remarked. Teams selected a weekend devoid of major events to minimize disruptions.
Preparations included disconnecting utilities and removing the chimney at 308 Madison. The house required minimal internal support for the two-block move, thanks to its sturdy structure. Walbridge poured a new foundation at the Division Street site to accommodate the relocated house.
Relocating history
Walbridge enlisted Talaski Building Movers for the relocation. “The house was hydraulically raised in place, with steel beams installed under the first-floor structure,” explained Mark Corey, senior project manager with Walbridge. These beams provided a platform for the 54,000-pound house, which was then moved by a backhoe onto hydraulic wheel systems.
On Nov. 22, before dawn, crews closed streets and moved utilities to enable the move. Trudy mentioned, “Most of these utilities were moved live, ahead of us so we could move the house.” By 7:43 a.m., the semi began its journey, maneuvering the house through complex intersections with ease.
A new life
The Wallenberg house completed its journey in 52 minutes without incident and was placed on its new foundation. The university plans to secure it for winter and consider future preservation efforts. “The university has a sense of history and preservation,” Zedaker-Witte expressed. Corey added, “Whether it’s moving a historic structure like Wallenberg or building new projects, it’s great to be part of it.”
—
Read More Michigan News
