Hill Auditorium

DIRECTIONS & PARKING // DESCRIPTION // ACCESSIBILITY // DOCUMENTARY

825 North University Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

734-764-2538

DIRECTIONS

I-94 Eastbound (from Jackson and Chicago)
Take I-94 East to Exit 172, Jackson Road. Jackson Road becomes Huron. Continue on Huron to State Street. Turn right on State Street, then turn either left or right onto Washington Street (parking lots are located in both directions). See map for exact parking locations.

I-94 Westbound (from Detroit)
Take I-94 West to Exit 177, State Street. Turn right (north) on State Street. Continue on State Street to the U-M campus. Turn either left or right from State Street onto Washington Street (parking lots are located in both directions).

US-23 Northbound and Southbound
Take US-23 to Exit 37 B, Washtenaw Avenue (to Ann Arbor). Go west on Washtenaw (from the Northbound exit you will automatically go west; from the Southbound exit turn right at the end of the exit ramp). Continue on Washtenaw until it forks. Veer to the right at the fork. Washtenaw becomes Huron. From Huron, turn left at the light on Fletcher. See map for exact parking locations.

M-14 Westbound (from Plymouth or Livonia)
Take M-14 West to Exit 3, Downtown Ann Arbor, Main Street. Continue on Main Street. Turn left on Washington. See map for exact parking locations.

I-96 Eastbound (from Lansing)
Take I-96 East to US-23 South to M-14 West. Follow directions for M-14 Westbound.

I-696/I96 Westbound (from suburban Detroit)
Take I-696 or I-96 West to I-275 South to M-14 West. Follow directions for M-14 Westbound.

PARKING

We know that parking in downtown Ann Arbor can be difficult and take longer than expected. Please allow plenty of time to park. Parking is available in the following structures:

1. Fletcher St (Power Center) Structure (201 Flecher St): Entrance off Fletcher Street at Washington. Event parking is $6.

2. S Thayer St Structure (216 S Thayer St): Entrance off Thayer Street between Washington and North University Avenue. Event parking is $6.

3. Palmer Dr Structure (200 Washtenaw Avenue): Accessible to University of Michigan blue and gold permit holders with an AVI device.

4. Liberty Square Structure (510 E Washington St): Entrance off Washington between State Street and Division. See current rates.

5. Maynard St Structure (324 Maynard St): Entrances off Maynard Street and Thompson between William and Liberty. See current rates.

6. Thompson St Structure (508 Thompson St): Open to the public after 6 pm Mon-Sat and all day Sunday.

7. Valet Parking (N University Ave in front of Hill Auditorium): Available 1 hour before performances on our Choral Union series. Valet is $20 per car (plus tip).

Description

Hill Auditorium was built by noted architectural firm Kahn and Wilby. Completed in 1913, the renowned concert hall was inaugurated at the 20th Ann Arbor May Festival, and has continued to be the site of thousands of concerts, featuring everyone from Leonard Bernstein and Cecilia Bartoli to Bob Marley and Bob Dylan.

In May, 2002, Hill Auditorium underwent an 18-month, $38.6-million dollar renovation, updating the infrastructure and restoring much of the interior to its original splendor. Exterior renovations included the reworking of brick paving and stone retaining wall areas, restoration of the south entrance plaza, the reworking of the west barrier-free ramp and loading dock, and improvements to landscaping.

Interior renovations included the demolition of lower-level spaces to ready the area for future improvements, the creation of additional restrooms, the improvement of barrier-free circulation by providing elevators and an addition with ramps, the replacement of seating to increase patron comfort, introduction of barrier-free seating and stage access, the replacement of theatrical performance and audio-visual systems, and the complete replacement of mechanical and electrical infrastructure systems for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Re-opened in January, 2004, Hill Auditorium now seats 3,538.

The venue celebrated its 100th birthday on May 14th, 2013. Watch “A Space for Music, A Seat for Everyone”, the UMS documentary about our history in Hill Auditorium, online here.

Accessibility

Access for Persons with Disabilities

Wheelchair seating is available on the main floor and mezzanine levels of Hill Auditorium. Wheelchair ramps are found on the east and west entrances, off South Thayer Street and Ingalls Mall.

Hill Auditorium is equipped with assistive listening devices. Earphones may be obtained upon arrival. Please ask an usher for assistance.

Entrances and Elevators

There are two elevators that access the mezzanine, balcony, and lower lobby levels. They may be found on either side of the lobby. Stairs are required to access the seating area on the Balcony level.

Ticket Office Location

For ticket sales and ticket pick-up, use the South Thayer Street entrance. The Ticket Office opens 90 minutes prior to the performance and remains open until 30 minutes after the performance begins.

SEAT MAPS

Seat Map
(199K PDF)

Hill Auditorium Documentary

Please note: To turn close captioning on or off, click “play” and then click “CC” in bottom right corner of video.
For optimal viewing, we recommend a non-mobile device.

A Space for Music, A Seat for Everyone: 100 Years of UMS Performances in Hill Auditorium

“Winner “Best Historical Documentary” Michigan EMMY^® Award

One of the most celebrated venues in the United States, Hill Auditorium, located on the campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, opened on May 14, 1913.

Designed by the renowned architect Albert Kahn and boasting one of the world’s finest acoustical designs, Hill Auditorium has been a true cultural incubator for the arts community in southeast Michigan for the past 100 years. With a rich history of performances by the world’s top artists, Hill Auditorium is a shining example of how investment in the arts cultivates a vibrant, engaged community.

In many ways, Hill Auditorium is more than a gathering place for music enthusiasts; it has been the beating heart of civic life in Ann Arbor for a century and has created a self-perpetuating reputation for attracting top talent to the venue, the university, and the city itself. Through concert recordings, news articles, and anecdotal interviews, A Space for Music, A Seat for Everyone: 100 Years of UMS Performances in Hill Auditorium provides historical context for the auditorium’s role as UMS’s primary concert venue and highlights its evolving community function.

Watch Full Documentary

Length and format: 57 minutes, widescreen, HD.