The Cranbrook Academy of Art is part of Cranbrook's larger educational community, a 319-acre campus that also includes a contemporary art museum, a science museum, and a college preparatory school for pre-primary school children at age 12. Founded by George Gough Booth and his wife Ellen Scripps Booth, the Booths sought to model the Academy after the American Academy of Art in Rome. He also formulated the Academy's curriculum and was its first president from 1932 to 1946, directed its Department of Architecture and Urban Design from 1932 to 1950 and designed numerous commissions outside Cranbrook. These include day camps, a soccer clinic, a film seminar, a compensatory educational program for students from low-income families, a jazz ensemble, ice hockey, lacrosse and tennis camps, as well as the Cranbrook Theater School. The campus itself is a modernist masterpiece, designed in part by the great Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen (the father of Eero Saarinen, who also taught at Cranbrook). By then, the Booth had begun to seriously consider establishing educational institutions in Cranbrook.
In 1985, Cranbrook and Kingswood schools merged to create a blended higher education institution. Over the years, the Cranbrook children's school campus grew to include Stevens Hall, Page Hall and Coulter Hall. Cranbrook is an educational community that was founded by George Gough Booth and his wife Ellen Scripps Booth. The Booths sought to model the Academy after the American Academy of Art in Rome and formulated its curriculum. Eliel Saarinen was also an integral part of the founding of Cranbrook as he designed much of the campus.
In 1985, Cranbrook and Kingswood schools merged to create a blended higher education institution. The Cranbrook Children's School was established in 1927 and was designed by Eliel Saarinen. It has grown over the years to include Stevens Hall, Page Hall and Coulter Hall. Renowned sculptors Carl Milles and Marshall Fredericks also spent many years residing in Cranbrook. The Oh's Savage chair is an example of the 1940 organically designed auxiliary chair by Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen which is on display nearby. Cranbrook is famous for its architecture in the style of the Arts and Crafts Movement by principal architects Albert Kahn and Eliel Saarinen.
Over the years, it has become synonymous with contemporary American design. The campus offers day camps, a soccer clinic, a film seminar, a compensatory educational program for students from low-income families, a jazz ensemble, ice hockey, lacrosse and tennis camps, as well as the Cranbrook Theater School. Cranbrook is an educational community that has been shaped by George Gough Booth and Eliel Saarinen. It has grown over time to become synonymous with contemporary American design and offers many educational opportunities for students from all backgrounds.
