Michigan Memories: 5 major University of Michigan buildings demolished over past 100 years

For example, U-M is gutting the old Mott facility and creating a new neuroscience hospital for $163 million and renovating East Quad, one of the school's largest dormitories, for $116 million this summer.

Yet in the past U-M has demolished some large buildings to make way for new construction. Here's a look at some of the university demolitions over the years:

University Hall

Dating back to 1871, University Hall held an auditorium, chapel, offices and lecture halls. According to university archives, it linked two pre-existing halls and was considered the university's signature classroom building, much like Angell Hall is today. The hall was located on the edge of the Diag near State Street.

University archives suggest the design and architectural safety of the building drew sharp criticism from the public. Due to safety concerns, its dome was replaced in 1896 and during the 1910s seating capacity in the auditorium was limited because of an ailing roof. By 1924 the building was obscured by the newly built Angell Hall and during the 1930s and 40s it was used as an administrative center. University Hall was demolished in 1950.

It cost $133,023 to build, according to the U-M Bentley Historical Library.

Kresge Complex

The demolition of the Kresge Complex is most recent large-scale raze by U-M.

Approved by the Board of Regents in 2009, the demolition cost $9.7 million, partially due to the removal of hazardous waste, asbestos and laboratory items. The cost also accounted for site restoration, including landscaping and sidewalks.

The complex included three research buildings, a hearing research institute, animal facility, radiation therapy center and pharmacology building. Constructed throughout the 1950s and 1960s, it was U-M's major research center during the later half of the 20th century. The complex was located at the northeast corner of Ann Street and Zina Pitcher Place,

University Hospital

The old 1,140-bed University Hospital, often referred to as Old Main Hospital, is shown here in 1925, the year it was completed.

By the time it was demolished in 1989 it had undergone several additions. The hospital originally cost $3.4 million to build, according to university archives. The new hospital was built in 1986 for $285 million.

Women's Athletic Building

The Women's Athletic building was located at the south end of Palmer Field, near Mosher-Jordan Hall. It was built in 1928 at a cost of $154,000.

Designed to house a physical education program for women, it was demolished in 1974 after regents agreed to build the Center Campus Recreation Building and North Campus Recreation Facility for a combined $7.7 million, according to university archives.

Old University Library

Demolished just 35 years after it was completed, the library tower held the university's clock and chimes and the second floor housed its art collection.

After an 1898 addition, it could hold 200,000 books. The library was built in 1883 for $100,000 and demolished in 1918, after being declared unsafe in 1915, according to U-M archives. The library was located on the Diag.

This article has been revised to note the library was located on the Diag and not near the Central Power Plant and that East Quad is one of the largest U-M dormitories.