Western State Normal School, Speech & Hearing Building, Western Michigan University, bounded by Stadium, Oliver and Davis streets, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, MI

Significance: The Speech and Hearing Building (1939) is the last of the four buildings that were built on the Prospect Hill, the original campus of Western State Teachers College (the present-day Western Michigan University). The building's architect was Lewis J. Sarvis, of Battle Creek, who designed numerous other educational buildings throughout the state. Originally called the Health and Personnel Building, it housed the college's pioneering program for treatment of speech disorders, and training of professionals in that field of treatment, created by Dr. Charles Van Riper. The program grew in size and importance, and established Western Michigan University as an internationally recognized leader in treatment and education related to speech disorders.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N2053
Survey number: HABS MI-448-D
Building/structure dates: 1939 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 2003 Subsequent Work
National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 90001230