A brief history of North Quad:

In 1956, the University purchased the Ann Arbor High School building and the Carnegie Library and named the complex the Henry Simmons Frieze Building, in honor of the first dean of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. North Quad was built on this site; many of the Frieze Building’s decorative elements were incorporated into the façade.

The Ann Arbor High School building was originally erected as the Union School in 1856. The Union School was a school for all grades, and Ann Arbor’s Argus newspaper reported people “moving here to take advantage of our model Union School.” In the 1860s, the Union School became Ann Arbor High School. The building was burned in a fire in 1904, and later reopened in 1907 featuring “cutting-edge Chute-designed laboratories, a gymnasium, expanded vocational courses, and an attached public Carnegie Library that was shared with the school.”

In 1956, Ann Arbor High School relocated to the building that is now known as Pioneer High School. UM had bought the old school and library buildings and named them to honor former Professor Henry Simmons Frieze. Classrooms were used mainly for theater, social work, and languages. Trueblood Auditorium and the Arena Theater provided space for training and performances. The buildings were demolished in 2007 to erect “North Quad,” combined dorm and academic buildings mixing students’ living and learning spaces. The North Quad complex officially opened in March 2010. The facade of the Carnegie Library on Huron Street and architectural elements from the old high school were integrated into the new buildings.

Reference: “Downtown Ann Arbor Historical Street Exhibit Program”, Ann Arbor District Library, 2012.
Images: Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan

Interesting Articles about North Quad and its history:

North Quad and Nellie’s Books (Michigan Today)

North Quad to showcase state-of-the-art technology, international programs (The Michigan Daily)