{"id":9114,"date":"2018-07-06T10:00:34","date_gmt":"2018-07-06T14:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/?p=9114"},"modified":"2024-07-08T06:05:52","modified_gmt":"2024-07-08T10:05:52","slug":"arbor-lakes-a-longstanding-hub-of-tech-innovation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/2018\/07\/06\/arbor-lakes-a-longstanding-hub-of-tech-innovation\/","title":{"rendered":"Arbor Lakes: A longstanding hub of tech innovation"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"metaslider-id-9116\" style=\"max-width: 600px; margin: 0 auto;\" class=\"ml-slider-3-106-0 metaslider metaslider-flex metaslider-9116 ml-slider has-dots-nav ms-theme-default\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"MDSI Reunion at Arbor Lakes\" data-height=\"450\" data-width=\"600\">\n    <div id=\"metaslider_container_9116\">\n        <div id=\"metaslider_9116\" class=\"flexslider\">\n            <ul class='slides'>\n                <li style=\"display: block; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-9130 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2018-07-11 14:51:35\" data-filename=\"MDSI50Anniversary_061518-3FINAL150-e1531496257518.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/MDSI50Anniversary_061518-3FINAL150-e1531496257518.jpg\" class=\"slider-9116 slide-9130 msDefaultImage\" alt=\"&quot; &quot;\" rel=\"\" title=\"MDSI50Anniversary_061518 - 3FINAL150\" style=\"margin-top: 4.1666666666667%\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Chuck Hutchins speaks with Bob Pavey, member of MDSI Board of Directors. (Joel Iverson, ITS Communications)<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-9131 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2018-07-11 14:51:35\" data-filename=\"MDSI50Anniversary_061518-10FINAL150-e1531496305139.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/MDSI50Anniversary_061518-10FINAL150-e1531496305139.jpg\" class=\"slider-9116 slide-9131 msDefaultImage\" alt=\"&quot; &quot;\" rel=\"\" title=\"MDSI50Anniversary_061518 - 10FINAL150\" style=\"margin: 0 auto; width: 50%\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Ken Stephanz shakes hand with former MDSI staff member. (Joel Iverson, ITS Communications)<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-9128 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2018-07-11 14:51:35\" data-filename=\"Arbor-Lakes-Tubes_Early-MDSI-B3fromPlymouth-e1531496367393.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"466\" src=\"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Arbor-Lakes-Tubes_Early-MDSI-B3fromPlymouth-e1531496367393.jpg\" class=\"slider-9116 slide-9128 msDefaultImage\" alt=\"&quot; &quot;\" rel=\"\" title=\"Arbor Lakes Tubes_Early MDSI-B3fromPlymouth\" style=\"margin: 0 auto; width: 96.56652360515%\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">The Arbor Lakes building complex taken in the early years of MDSI, prior to U-M\u2019s ownership of the facility. (ITS Photo Archive)<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-9126 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2018-07-11 14:51:34\" data-filename=\"AL-Front_645-1-e1531496473363.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/AL-Front_645-1-e1531496473363.jpg\" class=\"slider-9116 slide-9126 msDefaultImage\" alt=\"&quot; &quot;\" rel=\"\" title=\"AL Front_645 (1)\" style=\"margin-top: 4.1666666666667%\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Arbor Lakes, Building 3 as of 2018. (Joel Iverson, U-M ITS Communications)<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-9132 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2018-07-11 14:51:35\" data-filename=\"MDSI50Anniversary_061518-15FINAL150-e1531496516359.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/MDSI50Anniversary_061518-15FINAL150-e1531496516359.jpg\" class=\"slider-9116 slide-9132 msDefaultImage\" alt=\"&quot; &quot;\" rel=\"\" title=\"MDSI50Anniversary_061518 - 15FINAL150\" style=\"margin-top: 4.1666666666667%\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Bruce Nourse stands next to Ken Pritchard, speaking, sharing stories of when MDSI was housed at Arbor Lakes.\n(Joel Iverson, U-M ITS Communications)<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-9127 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2018-07-11 14:51:34\" data-filename=\"Arbor-Lakes-Tubes_Early-MDSI-e1531496573335.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Arbor-Lakes-Tubes_Early-MDSI-e1531496573335.jpg\" class=\"slider-9116 slide-9127 msDefaultImage\" alt=\"&quot; &quot;\" rel=\"\" title=\"Arbor Lakes Tubes_Early MDSI\" style=\"margin: 0 auto; width: 78.125%\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">The tubes at Arbor Lakes building complex taken in the early years of MDSI, prior to U-M\u2019s ownership of the facility.\n(G - Photographic: 10750 West 9 Mile Road, Oak Park, MI 48237; 313-398-8822)<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-9133 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2018-07-11 14:51:35\" data-filename=\"MDSI50Anniversary_061518-16FINAL150-e1531496620663.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/MDSI50Anniversary_061518-16FINAL150-e1531496620663.jpg\" class=\"slider-9116 slide-9133 msDefaultImage\" alt=\"&quot; &quot;\" rel=\"\" title=\"MDSI50Anniversary_061518 - 16FINAL150\" style=\"margin-top: 4.1666666666667%\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Ken Pritchard talks about the renovation of tubes while Chuck Hutchins, Ken Stephanz, Bruce Nouse, and other MDSI alumni listen. (Joel Iverson, U-M ITS Communications)<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-9134 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2018-07-11 14:51:35\" data-filename=\"MDSI50Anniversary_061518-18FINAL150-e1531496662258.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/MDSI50Anniversary_061518-18FINAL150-e1531496662258.jpg\" class=\"slider-9116 slide-9134 msDefaultImage\" alt=\"&quot; &quot;\" rel=\"\" title=\"MDSI50Anniversary_061518 - 18FINAL150\" style=\"margin: 0 auto; width: 50%\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">Bruce Nourse brings Ken Stephanz down the tube connecting Arbor Lakes Buildings 1 and 3. Chuck Hutchins, Ken Pritchard, and other MDSI alumni follow. (Joel Iverson, U-M ITS Communications)<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-9129 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2018-07-11 14:51:35\" data-filename=\"Garden690-1-e1531496697458.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Garden690-1-e1531496697458.jpg\" class=\"slider-9116 slide-9129 msDefaultImage\" alt=\"&quot; &quot;\" rel=\"\" title=\"Garden690 (1)\" style=\"margin-top: 4.1666666666667%\" \/><div class=\"caption-wrap\"><div class=\"caption\">The sculpture, \"Three Part Form,\" in the garden between Arbor Lakes buildings one and three. \n(Joel Iverson, U-M ITS Communications) <\/div><\/div><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Long before Arbor Lakes became the residence of U-M Information and Technology Services and Health Information Technology and Services, it was owned by Manufacturing Data Systems, Inc. (MDSI), a pioneer of computer-aided manufacturing.<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, June 15, 2018, MDSI returned to Arbor Lakes for their 50-year reunion. For co-founders Charles (Chuck) Hutchins (U-M class of \u201957), Ken Stephanz, Bruce Nourse (U-M class of \u201965), Urbanes (Van) Van Bemden, and many other MDSI alumni, it was a day of reminiscing on the \u201cgood-old-days\u201d and revisiting old stomping grounds. The original and current facilities managers of Arbor Lakes took the MDSI group on a walking tour of the complex. A lot has changed since MDSI has been here. There are more collaborative spaces and the old presidents\u2019 offices have been turned into conference rooms. But there are still some holdovers from the MDSI days that Hutchins and many others fondly remembered.<\/p>\n<p>During the tour, former facility manager Ken Pritchard recalled how \u201cthe pond and buildings were placed specifically so that an elm tree would be centered in the view from the dining room.\u201d That elm tree is still alive and on the Arbor Lakes property today. The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.public-art.umich.edu\/the_collection\/campus\/other\/109\">sculpture<\/a> between buildings 1 and 3 was originally commissioned by MDSI to represent the metal shavings coming off of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/numerical-control\">Numerical Control (NC) machine<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Hutchins\u2019s road to founding MDSI and building Arbor Lakes is one paved with hard work, a willingness to step out of comfort zones, and an appetite for learning. After graduating from U-M in 1957 with a degree in mechanical engineering, he went to work for Buhr Machine Tool Co., which introduced him to the very beginning of Numerically Controlled Machine Tools. With the support of Regent Roscoe Bonisteel and former U-M VP Wilbur Pierpont, Hutchins and his team at Buhr were able to purchase one of the first NC machines. In 1967, he ran into Comshare President Bob Guise downtown Ann Arbor and asked if he would \u201clet [Hutchins] try an idea&#8230;for programming NC machine tools using the time sharing system.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Guise agreed, and Hutchins got to work on coding ComPACT II. One year later, Guise suggested that Hutchins take the knowledge he gained and start his own company. Along with David Morgenthaler, Comshare invested in the work Hutchins and his team had put in over the last three years and MDSI was established. They started in an office space on Packard Road, but as MDSI grew in size, so did their need for a larger space.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Arbor Lakes Facility is probably the only building in UM-Ann Arbor that was built as a result of a handshake between two Michigan alumni and is now owned by the university,\u201d Hutchins said in his welcome speech on Friday, \u201ca result of that handshake is that, as we grew, we bought the property on Plymouth Road and built what is now the Arbor Lakes Facility.\u201d It\u2019s been 42 years since Arbor Lakes first housed MDSI, but this complex still remains a hub of technological innovation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Long before Arbor Lakes became the residence of U-M Information and Technology Services and Health Information Technology and Services, it was owned by Manufacturing Data Systems, Inc. (MDSI), a pioneer of computer-aided manufacturing. On Friday, June 15, 2018, MDSI returned to Arbor Lakes for their 50-year reunion. For co-founders Charles (Chuck) Hutchins (U-M class of \u201957), Ken Stephanz,\u2026 <span class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/2018\/07\/06\/arbor-lakes-a-longstanding-hub-of-tech-innovation\/\">Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":85,"featured_media":9117,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_umich_oidc_access":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[516,501,306],"class_list":["post-9114","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","tag-arbor-lakes","tag-facilities","tag-history"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/AL-Front_645-1-e1531496473363.jpg",600,400,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/AL-Front_645-1-125x83.jpg",125,83,true],"medium":["https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/AL-Front_645-1-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/AL-Front_645-1-768x512.jpg",665,443,true],"large":["https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/AL-Front_645-1-700x466.jpg",600,399,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/AL-Front_645-1-e1531496473363.jpg",600,400,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/AL-Front_645-1-e1531496473363.jpg",600,400,false],"excerpt-thumbnail":["https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/AL-Front_645-1-200x140.jpg",200,140,true],"themonic-thumbnail":["https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/AL-Front_645-1-60x42.jpg",60,42,true],"ioslider-thumbnail":["https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/AL-Front_645-1-658x300.jpg",658,300,true],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/AL-Front_645-1-665x443.jpg",665,443,true],"400x250-crop":["https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/AL-Front_645-1-e1531496473363.jpg",375,250,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Annaliese Gottschalk, ITS Marketing and Communications","author_link":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/author\/agott\/"},"uagb_comment_info":2,"uagb_excerpt":"Long before Arbor Lakes became the residence of U-M Information and Technology Services and Health Information Technology and Services, it was owned by Manufacturing Data Systems, Inc. (MDSI), a pioneer of computer-aided manufacturing. On Friday, June 15, 2018, MDSI returned to Arbor Lakes for their 50-year reunion. For co-founders Charles (Chuck) Hutchins (U-M class of&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9114","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/85"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9114"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9114\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9172,"href":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9114\/revisions\/9172"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9117"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9114"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9114"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}