Construction is underway on a new outdoor gathering area adjacent to Griswold Communications Center that will give Northwood University students a new spot to learn and connect. The enhanced setting also will serve as a welcoming outdoor venue for visitors and guests attending events at this unique center for learning and socializing.
The half-million-dollar project is funded by support from the Thomas F. and Harriet S. Oakley Family Trust to Northwood University’s When We Are Free comprehensive fundraising campaign, continuing to fuel one of the best colleges in Michigan.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Oakley Family Trust for their vision and generosity,” stated Brian McLeod, vice president of finance and administration at Northwood University. “This project will transform a key area of campus into a vibrant, multi-use space where students can collaborate, faculty can extend learning beyond the classroom, and guests can experience the beauty and spirit of Northwood from the moment they arrive at Griswold Hall.”
Transforming Campus Through Purpose-Driven Philanthropy
Oakley Family Trust Gift Brings New Life to Griswold Hall Area
In addition to a new walking path, the project will feature a series of prominent quotes along the area, including statements by Benjamin Franklin, Rose Wilder Lane, Milton Friedman, and Henry David Thoreau, as well as a small bridge and other landscape enhancements.
“These improvements are about more than bricks, stone, and greenery. “They are about creating an environment that reflects our values, honors the champions of liberty and free enterprise who inspire us, and enhances the day-to-day experience of our students, staff, and campus visitors.”
Brian McLeod, Vice President of Finance and Administration
Northwood has partnered with several local businesses on this project, including Servinski Sod Service, Sugar Construction Inc., Jack’s Tree Service, and OHM Advisors for architectural and engineering services.
Advancing the When We Are Free Campaign
A $100 Million Commitment to The Northwood Idea and Campus Growth
Vice President of Advancement Murray Kyte said the Oakley Family Trust’s support is a powerful example of how philanthropic leadership is shaping the university’s future.
“We are in the public phase of our historic When We Are Free comprehensive campaign, a $100 million effort to sustain and advance Northwood’s role as America’s Free Enterprise University,” Kyte said. “Leadership gifts like this from the Thomas F. and Harriet S. Oakley Family Trust are essential to that vision. They help us create new scholarships, fund endowed faculty positions, and complete campus improvements that directly support our students’ success and the impact of The Northwood Idea for generations to come.”
The project is taking shape now through the holidays, with additional landscaping to be completed in the spring.
This initiative is the latest in a series of enhancements to Northwood’s Mall Walk, a central pedestrian corridor that has undergone multiple improvements in recent years. Last year, the City of Midland awarded Northwood a beautification award for its efforts to enhance campus, including upgrades to the Mall Walk, Founder’s Garden, and the adjacent John and Marjorie Hohman Amphitheater. The amphitheater area now features new sculptures honoring Northwood’s founders—Arthur and Johann Turner and Gary and Willa Stauffer—as well as Nobel Prize–winning economist Milton Friedman and his wife, Rose Friedman.
Other recent campus improvements include:
- The completion of the Michel and Dianne Morey Family Courtyard, located in the center of campus
- New tile work around the fountain and fireplace at the Four Season Space near the Lincoln on the Prairie statue at the heart of campus
- A campaign to transform utility boxes around campus into works of public art that pay homage to Midland’s University, The Northwood Idea, and Northwood’s commitment to Liberty and Business For All
- The addition of two murals—one that is a patriotic vision spanning the entire length of the back of Griswold Hall, and a “Wings of Freedom” installation that is a popular selfie spot
McLeod said, “Northwood looks forward to welcoming students, alumni, and community members to the new Griswold-adjacent gathering space as an inspiring place to study, reflect, and socialize.”
