Northwood University in Midland has announced several new projects and initiatives as part of its When We Are Free comprehensive campaign, a $100 million plan designed to advance faculty leadership, student scholarships, campus facilities, and academic innovation.
One project is a new academic facility to be named in honor of Dr. Alan Wildstein and constructed adjacent to the existing and remodeled N.A.D.A. Hotel and Conference Center. The cost and construction timeline of the new facility was not provided.
The new academic facility will serve as a community hub and new gateway to Northwood University and its automotive, mobility, and professional education expertise
The project, to date, has garnered leadership gifts from Dr. Alan Jay Wildstein, founder, president, and CEO of the Alan Jay Automotive Network, the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, and Reynolds and Reynolds, the leading provider of software, services, and forms in automotive retail. The project also is supported by Northwood alumnus Bill Cole.
Additional philanthropic commitments have been secured, which Northwood plans to share in the coming months.
“This is the kind of project that defines an era for a university,” says Kent MacDonald, president of Northwood University. “This state-of-the-art facility will build upon Northwood’s storied reputation as a leader in automotive business education and usher in a future featuring deepened academic offerings and exciting experiential learning opportunities through expanded motorsports and mobility programming.
“In addition to enhancing our commitment to automotive education, this new academic facility will be a dynamic space for students, educators, and partners to come together to innovate and grow.”
The new academic facility will integrate modern classrooms, collaborative learning environments, and a premier conference venue supported by and named after Reynolds and Reynolds.
The conference center will accommodate up to 350 guests in a banquet-style setting, which will attract industry conferences, host the university’s signature events, and add to Northwood’s annual regional economic impact of more than $200 million.
Additionally, the facility will feature second-floor suites to host guests and create unique opportunities for students to gain experience managing venues like a boutique hotel and a conference center.
“This project directly advances Northwood’s mission to prepare students for leadership roles in an evolving global economy — especially in automotive, mobility, motorsports, and emerging transportation technologies,” says Matthew Bennett, vice president of Northwood’s enrollment and strategic alliances. “At the same time, we’re creating a versatile space to host conferences, community events, and programming that serve students and partners across all disciplines.”
The new academic facility’s main gallery will serve as a hub for academic and professional development. Executive conference rooms will support both smaller events and flexible classroom use. An adjacent Acta Lounge will offer a space for social gatherings, visiting dignitaries, and fundraising receptions.
The project represents a broader investment in the existing NADA Hotel and Conference Center and adjacent R. Gary Stauffer Academic Building, combining new construction with renovation.
The R. Gary Stauffer Academic Building will undergo a comprehensive modernization that preserves its legacy as a core academic facility while upgrading classrooms, technology, and learning environments to meet the needs of today’s students.
The long-standing Central Courtyard — previously known as Ford Courtyard — will be opened to a new mall walk and reimagined as an active outdoor hub for special events, student functions, and community gatherings.
Its location adjacent to the Acta Lounge and near the main gallery will create natural social spaces that connect academic resources, breakout areas, and all-suite lodging into a cohesive student and guest experience.
The overall project also proposes creating an Automotive Gateway Plaza, anchored by a new north-south mall walk that will connect to the Lincoln on the Prairie sculpture.
Highlights include:
• Improved walkability through new walkways that integrate the Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center more effectively into campus
• A new focal point for major campus events, including the Northwood University International Auto Show, which is the largest student-led outdoor new auto show in America
• Amplification of Northwood’s institutional philosophy, The Northwood Idea, through integrated quotes and outdoor public art
Additional plaza enhancements include new outdoor lighting, landscaping, and designed gathering spaces that highlight Northwood’s heritage in automotive and entrepreneurial leadership, while providing flexible staging areas for vehicles, demonstrations, and interactive experiences during campus events.
The new academic facility will preserve a distinctive sunken lobby, which is a landmark feature of the NADA Hotel and Conference Center, designed in 1973 by one of Michigan’s most influential architects, Alden B. Dow.
A student of Frank Lloyd Wright, Dow was a leader in the Mid-Century Modern Movement and served as the master planner and architect for Northwood University’s campus.
“As we undertake this transformative initiative, Alden B. Dow’s legacy will be carefully preserved and celebrated,” says Justin Marshall, chief development and engagement o at Northwood. “This renovation and broader campus enhancements will be a continuation of his vision, one that respects the past while making room for the future.”
For interested partners looking to support Northwood University’s campaign, email advancement@northwood.edu.
