Stephen M. Ross School of Business

Name of property current (historical)

Abstract

The Stephen M. Ross School of Business, also known as Michigan Ross, is the business school of the University of Michigan, a public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Business School received its first $100 million gift from alumnus Steve M. Ross in 2004 to renovate the Business School building and use it for education and research. Ross's gift has made the business school one of the most elite. Ross believed that, the University of Michigan made a difference in my life. I know firsthand the truly exceptional academic programs Michigan offers its students. The days I spent here laid the foundation for my career and taught me lessons I will never forget. So Ross's donation to the University of Michigan, which totals about $400 million, can be seen as an alumnus' support for research and athletics.

Address

701 Tappan Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Architect

KPF Architects(Kohn Pedersen Fox)

Date (comission)

1924 - University of Michigan School of Business Administration founded
2004 - Beginning of the transformed the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business in two phases

Date (completion)

2009 - The $145 million Stephen M. Ross building opened.
2016 - the Jeff T. Blau Hall and the renovated Kresge Hall opened.
2018 - The whole building completed

Program/ function

Used as a place for daily teaching and academic discussion in the business school.

Date (modification, adaptation, renovation)

2004 - alumnus Stephen M. Ross donated US$100 million to the school, which was renamed the Stephen M. Ross School of Business.
2006 - the Ross Leadership Initiative was raised, later renamed the Sanger Leadership Center, was established to improve the leadership development of MBA students.
2013 - Stephen M. Ross made a second $100 million gift as a part of a larger fundraising effort;
2016 - the Jeff T. Blau Hall and the renovated Kresge Hall opened.
2017 - Ross donated an additional $50 million to the school.

Style/ distinct features/ cultural reference

Modernism

Gift giver/ funder/ contributor

Stephen M. Ross
Mr. Ross is chairman of Related Companies, an industry-leading, international real estate development company best known for the development of Time Warner Center in New York City and the 28-acre Hudson Yards development on Manhattan's west side. Related Companies is one of the largest owners of affordable housing nationally. Mr. Ross is also the owner of the Miami Dolphins.

Beneficiaries and impact on the community

Students of school of business and people living in the community of University of Michigan.
The Ross gift funded a campus overhaul, expanded the original building area, to help complete the vision of a unified business school complex, including one new building, one fully renovated building, and other improvements.
Michigan Ross is committed to building a better world through business. Through our powerful ideas, purpose-driven leaders, and positive impact, we empower business leaders to make a positive difference in the world.

Was it part of a network of buildings?

Yes. Ross is part of the Michigan central campus, also this project is an urban design project at the neighborhood scale.

Sustainability (financial, cultural)

Michigan Ross’ core beliefs is that businesses should be good citizens in the community and the world. One way we put that belief into action is through sustainable and “green” practices at the school itself.
Our commitment to sustainability may be best seen in the buildings that make up the Ross complex themselves. The design, features, and systems of our buildings incorporate many sustainable measures. Two of our most recent construction projects (three buildings) have earned LEED© Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (Michiganross, 2022).
High-efficiency lighting and daylight-dimming systems reduce power requirements. Overall, the project saves 25 percent more energy beyond ASHRAE standards (Michiganross, 2022).
Large skylights bring natural light into offices and teaching areas and reduce the need for artificial light. Occupancy sensors automatically lower the heat when rooms have been vacant for a period of time. Two “green roofs” filter rainfall as part of a natural stormwatermanagement system. Planted with sedum, a drought-resistant perennial groundcover, the living roofs help insulate the building, reduce heating and cooling costs, and improve air quality by trapping airborne dust and dirt.
Low-flow plumbing fixtures reduce water usage by 42% when compared to the Energy Policy Act of 1992 fixture performance requirements.Native and drought-adapted species and an efficient drip irrigation system minimize water demand for the landscaping.
Quiet and durable cork flooring, a rapidly renewable resource, is used in public spaces.75 percent of demolition and construction debris was recycled. Recycled material, including concrete, drywall, and steel, was used where possible for construction. Low hemical-emitting materials chosen for carpeting and paint.

Size/ scale

179,000-square-foot

Was the community involved in the process?

Although the project managers stated that the residents of the city were included in the project, Guillen (2020) underlines that after the interviews he made in the article, the things to be done before the project was introduced were determined and the opinion of the community was not taken.

Q1: What were the motivations of the gift-giver and the implications of the gift for the community ?

First, he wants to help the Detroit area advance and promote transformative projects through his donations. Stephen ross is an alumnus of the University of Michigan, where he received a Bachelor's degree in Business administration in 1962 and a Master's degree in law in 1965. In addition, he was born and raised in Detroit. He said, "My time at the University of Michigan was foundational for my life and career, and I hope the students who come here seize the opportunity to make a difference and make an impact here in Detroit and across the country."(City of Detroit, 2017).
On the other hand, his donations partly reflect his tax avoidance.Then there's the other Stephen Ross, the big loser. Ross’s company brought in some $1.5 billion in income from 2008 to 2017, but he reported nearly $2 billion in losses. And because he reported negative income, under U.S. law, he would not have to pay taxes on that financial situation. Having doubled his net worth since 2008, he paid no income taxes in the next decade utilizing the losses on the properties he owned (ProPublica, 2021). Since nearly $400 million in charitable acts to Ross School of Business were included in his loss bill, it can't be dismissed as a form of tax avoidance.

Q2: Was there an imposed sense of responsibility or reciprocation in the case study, and who were the parties that were charged with these actions?

The sense of reciprocity exists in a practical sense. Ross said, “I surround myself with the brightest people possible by creating an environment where they can learn, grow and really be part of things, my role is simple: I bring everyone together with the resources they need to maximize their talent.” (michiganross, 2018). At Michigan Ross, we are leaders, researchers, and lifelong learners creating innovative solutions to the world's most complex business challenges. We are a top-ranked business school offering action-based learning to prepare our graduates for today’s ever-evolving world. Our impact extends far beyond the classroom as we aim to set a new standard in business and business education (michiganross, 2010).
For both the Academy and gift giver, the results of the donation are mutually beneficial in both directions. Through this donation, the Business School will be able to better build itself into a world-class academic exchange center and channel talent to leading enterprises. For gift giver, he realized his wish as an alumnus to contribute to his Alma mater and gained fame for himself.
Ross said, “The University of Michigan made a difference in my life. I know firsthand the truly exceptional academic programs Michigan offers its students. The days I spent here laid the foundation for my career and taught me lessons I will never forget.” (michiganross, 2018).
Overall, in the Ross case, the sense of responsibility and reciprocity is shared between the giver, Stephen M. Ross, and the business school. Both sides hope that the donation will contribute to the development of a diverse and inclusive business school community, and that business school students will have access to the best educational and social resources to help them complete their studies.

Q3: Do the design characteristics (i.e material, layout, location) reflect either the culture of the giver, the culture of the receiver, or a mixture of both?

Mr Ross wants to make Michigan Business School a high-tech, dynamic research centre. So the design characteristics of the Ross School of Business fits the culture and needs of the giver. The red facade of high-tech and sustainable materials enlivens the entire building. The internal energy storage, drainage and lighting systems are advanced and sustainable, in line with Mr. Ross's vision and expectations for the College. The complete facilities within the college, such as Starbucks, fitness room, research center, multipurpose auditorium, etc., make the whole college become a complete academic research center, can also be called an independent community. This is also in line with Mr. Ross's vision for the Business school in the first phase of the philanthropy, as well as the college culture he experienced as a member of the Business School many years ago.
De signed by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), Jeff T. Blau Hall marries a linear, contemporary style with clever practicality. The structure forms a physical hub for the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and comprises lecture halls, classrooms, and public spaces. The building’s exterior is a thoughtfully choreographed dance of materials in which stone, terra-cotta, and glass accentuate one another(metropolis, 2018).
Various patterns and geometries render it eye-catching from any angle, while the high-tech glass volumes’ LEED Gold certification reflects a focus on innovation and sustainability. Energy-efficient details include spacious windows that enable maximum sunlight exposure and minimize the need for artificial light, and landscaping that helps reduce storm-water runoff. Importantly, the tiles that cover the building’s exterior— an extruded rainscreen system from Shildan—prevent rain and condensation from entering the building while allowing water vapor out and enhancing insulation.
KPF created Blau Hall’s striking cladding using only one color: a custom terra-cotta that complements the red brick common on the university’s campus. The striped look is the result of the panels’ custom texturization(metropolis, 2018).
The Ross School of Business campus is among the winners of the 2018 American Architecture Awards, celebrating the best new buildings designed and constructed by American architects.The Architects for the Ross project, Kohn Pedersen Fox, have a history of developing buildings that make contributions to their surrounding environment, and the Michigan Ross campus is no different (michiganross, 2018).
Ross said, “The University of Michigan made a difference in my life. I know firsthand the truly exceptional academic programs Michigan offers its students. The days I spent here laid the foundation for my career and taught me lessons I will never forget.” (michiganross, 2018).

Bibliography

"America's Wealthiest Business Schools - Page 3 of 4". 4 April 2016. Archived from the original on 14 April 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
"Francine Lafontaine to Be Recommended as Interim Dean of Michigan Ross". May 10, 2021.
"University of Michigan, Ann Arbor: Full-Time MBA Profile - BusinessWeek". Archived from the original on 2012-06-01. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
"Full-time MBA Ranking 2021 | Which MBA? | The Economist". whichmba.economist.com. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
"Business school rankings from the Financial Times - FT.com". rankings.ft.com. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
"Business & Management Studies 2020". Top Universities. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
"Best Business Schools & MBA Programs 2021-22". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
"Top Business School Rankings: MBA, Undergrad, Executive & Online MBA - Businessweek". Archived from the original on 2013-09-16. Retrieved 2013-09-20.
"Best Business Schools". usnews.com. U.S. News & World Report. Archived from the original on 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
Srivastava, Samar (September 30, 2008). "And the Best Executive M.B.A. Programs In 2008 Are". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on February 23, 2018. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
"Best Undergraduate Business Programs Rankings". U.S. News. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
Cremonezi, Leo; Chan, Wai Kwen (2020-05-10). "Financial Times Executive Education 2020: the top 50 schools". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
Moules, Jonathan (2020-05-10). "FT Executive Education Rankings 2020: analysis amid the pandemic". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
"Distinguished Leader Certificate Program". michiganross.umich.edu. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
Michiganross. (2018). https://michiganross.umich.edu/about/our-campus/sustainable.

Mediator

Students of school of business and people living in the community of University of Michigan

Item