The ICC first discussed building its own "cooperative village" on North Campus during the mid 1950s, when the University announced its plans to house the art and engineering schools there. In 1958, government funds became available for long-term, low-interest loans for cooperatives on college campuses. The University was required to co-sign the loan, and unfortunately the University administration was reluctant because they feared that all the Fraternities and Sororities might request the same kind of assistance. The North Campus project lay dormant until 1964, when Congress amended the law to make the signatures of universities no longer requisite.

Because of the strict selection criteria, no student co-op had yet received a HUD loan when the ICC sent in its five-pound application in 1968. HUD approved the application a few months later, and a delegation from the ICC traveled to Chicago to collect the prize. The unlikely group of real estate moguls attracted some attention in the stuffy government offices. Luther Buchele remembers:

One middle aged woman in the HUD office noted the long hair on John Atchaz, John Gourlay, Rex Chisholm, and Smokey Geyer. She said haughtily to me "This must be a delegation of visitors." "Would you like to loan a group like this a million dollars?" I asked. She answered, "I certainly would not!" I then informed her that HUD had indeed made such a loan and she looked sour.

The North Campus co-ops are composed of Renaissance, O'Keeffe, and Escher Houses. All North Campus co-opers are members of Escher, which is comprised of the common areas, exterior of the building, and grounds. Members live in either O'Keeffe or Renaissance, each house has its own Constitution, rules, and officers. You may notice a subtle difference in the general character of these two houses, but they are really much more similar to each other than either is to any of the Central Campus co-ops. These houses are divided into suites of 16 to 20 people, each with a TV lounge, kitchen, four shower and four toilet rooms. These intimate arrangements facilitate social interactions and make the house feel smaller than it really is. Renaissance has four suites: Valhalla, Bertrand Russell, Karma, and Falstaff. Some suites have a distinctive character that persists over a few years. Members of these suites primarily identify with their suite, but they are also integrated with the rest of the house. Suite members have priority in control over the TV, etc., although members from other suites are welcome.

Living up to its name, the co-op is comprised of a diverse range of people across all continents who share an equally wide range of interests. Numerous foreign languages are spoken and rarely does one not get exposed to new and interesting cultures. The house is predominantly occupied by graduate students. A quiet setting amenable to the studious, Renaissance is an ideal place for the academic. However, not to be outdone by its Central Campus cousins, the co-op also offers many social activities that range from wild parties to ice cream socials to football in the yard. Hey, we have to let loose too.

Every year at Renaissance brings in new faces, new cultures, new friends. The one constant at the house is the friendliness, fun, and a commitment to make the cooperative environment work.

Don't want to live here but don't want to cook? Be a boarder here and for a very affordable price you get 7 meals a week plus access to unlimited cereal, milk, bagels, bread, and much more!

We hope you're interested in joining us! Take a quick tour of North Campus and read the Top 18 Questions for People Who Are Thinking About Living Here. Then email ren.prez@umich.edu to arrange to come over for dinner and check out our house!

ICC Office: 337 E. William St. / Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 662-4414 / fax (734) 662-5870
info@icc.coop