In March 2025, a storm blew through downtown Albion, damaging the Ludington Center’s roof and resulting in the building’s closure. Starting this week, the building has begun reopening.
According to Vice President of Institutional Advancement (IA) Amy Routhier, some IA staff moved back into the Ludington Center on Tuesday, with the rest moving in on April 22. In addition to reopening for employees of the college, Sarah Epplett, IA assistant director of philanthropy, said three local organizations will be renting office spaces on the first floor beginning in May.
The Ludington Center has also resumed its open hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday.
Before the Storm
According to Albion College’s website, the Ludington Center housed the IA Office prior to its closure and served as a “physical space that promotes, strengthens and elevates the civic engagement and justice efforts of Albion College and our community partners.”
The Ludington Center also used to be home to academic institutions such as the “Carl A. Gerstacker Institute for Business and Management, the Gerald R. Ford Institute for Leadership in Public Policy Service, and the Lisa and James Wilson Institute for Medicine.” According to Epplett, over time, they all relocated to the main campus. By the time the Ludington Center closed, Epplett said IA was the only department in the building.
Trinidad and Tobago sophomore Chelsea Ramdhan, who attended a class in the Ludington Center her first year, said it was “a really good place to have meetings” and “a nice place for students to work.”
Ramdhan said having a class in the “comfortable” and “clean” space was worth the “irritating” walk from campus.
“You get to interact with the town a little bit more,” Ramdhan said. “I definitely do miss it.”
Moving House
Director of Facilities Operation Nate Salazar said the storm had winds that “probably damaged a third of the building.” He added that after the roof was “peeled” back, “rain was just pouring in,” causing water damage to the interior of the building.
To begin managing this damage, Salazar said a “drying out process” had to take place. He said on at least two occasions, water damage was so severe that the team had to “nearly start from scratch” on the repair process. Carpet, drywall and base floor had to be removed and replaced in some areas, and electrical systems were damaged, Salazar added.
Some IA staff, including Administrative Secretary Brenda Brigham, were temporarily relocated to the Michigan Avenue Office Building (MAOB) after the Ludington Center was closed.
According to Brigham, “there’s just not enough room” in the building, and “there’s no real privacy.”
The IA has 19 total staff members, and Routhier said that some staff members “went all remote” or introduced a hybrid work schedule because there wasn’t space in the MAOB for the full staff.
Routhier said she is “appreciative” of “campus partners” for creating space for the IA staff across campus, adding that IA is “completely on track” to fulfill their goals for this year “in spite of really not having a home.”
Routhier added that IA is “excited” to return to the Ludington Center, which Brigham said has since become “a much better building.”
The Future of the Ludington Center
According to Routhier, “some community organizations” will be “renting out the first floor” as office spaces starting in May.
Epplett said this will include “the Albion Community Foundation (ACF), Albion Economic Development Corporation (AEDC), and the Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce (ACC).”
The Ludington Center will serve as a “one stop shop in many ways” for students to “become connected with either alumni or these really great community partners,” Routhier said.
The Ludington Center will serve as “one of the gateways to the college from the downtown community,” Routhier said.
According to Brigham, renting the office spaces stands to bring “good money” to Albion College, as “nobody used the downstairs” before the reopening.
The upstairs will remain in the possession of the college, housing the IA department. There will be “two conference rooms on the second floor” in addition to the multipurpose room on the first floor that will be “available for reservations,” Routhier said.
Students can also visit the golf center located on the first floor, Routhier added, although they may have to “contact the coach or members of the team” if they are not already a member in order to gain access.
Mentor, Ohio, senior Brixton Bright said the Ludington Center “encapsulates” the “modern design for what the rest of the college is kind of transitioning to.”
“After going through what it did, I think more value should be put into it,” Bright said.
Editor’s Note –1:32 p.m. Friday, April 10: Additional context for the headline quote was added in the body of the article.
Don’t forget the Career and Internship Center was one of the first to move in and last to leave. https://www.albion.edu/news-article/ludington-center-provides-another-tie-to-college-community/