New $2.9M visitor center opens at Meadow Brook Hall

ROCHESTER HILLS — Meadow Brook Hall has a new center for visitors to gather in and learn about its rich history.

The National Historic Landmark, located on Oakland University’s campus, recently welcomed its De Carlo Visitor Center to help the estate expand and enhance its collection of tours, educational programs and community experiences.

“The De Carlo Visitor Center establishes a formal entrance to the estate now, rerouting our entrance to provide a magnificent first look at the historic home. But the visitor center at Meadow Brook Hall is more than a gateway, it’s an embodiment of Oakland’s past and a symbol of our future,” Oakland University President Ora Pescovitz said during an Oct. 7 ribbon cutting ceremony.

The $2.9 million De Carlo Visitor Center is a new standalone building located in a section of what was once Meadow Brook’s visitor parking lot.

The impetus for the visitor center, according to Meadow Brook Hall Executive Director Bill Matt, was really to improve and increase the visitor experience, whether they come for programs, events or tours.

“The visitor center was intended to be a new front door for us. It’s a new front door welcome mat that we’ve thrown out for the community that has a lot of new amenities that will make their visit that much better,” he said.

The previous gate had no entrance or signage and little indication of where people were, Matt explained.

“It was important to us to have a kind of a gateway that was very clear and visible for people as they are approaching and entering Meadow Brook Estate,” he said.

The 3,000-square-foot facility is accessible to all and is the first new major construction on the Great Estate since the historic mansion was built 95 years ago. Officials said it serves as a new formal entrance to the estate, rerouting the entrance to provide a magnificent first look at the 88,000-square-foot historic home. It also provides modern amenities and versatile spaces for Meadow Brook to expand and enhance its collection of tours, events, educational programs and community experiences.  Inspired by the hall’s Gate Lodge, the visitor center is a welcome gateway to greet guests, including an open-air plaza and a patio for gathering, an orientation gallery, a learning center, an interactive exhibition and gallery space, a multimedia theater, and more.

Construction was managed by Rochester-based Frank Rewold & Sons, whose owner, Frank Rewold Jr., is the grandson of the company’s founder, Frank Rewold, who was Matilda Dodge Wilson’s personal handyman and built and repaired many of the structures at Meadow Brook and Oakland University. The design was handled by HopkinsBurns Design Studio.

A philanthropic campaign raised $2 million toward the project, and Matt said Meadow Brook Hall is borrowing the remainder from Oakland University at “a favorable interest.”

For more information, call (248) 364-6200 or visit meadowbrookhall.org/vistor center.