Schools

Art Institute of Michigan Celebrates New Troy Campus

The school plans to partner with businesses to benefit local companies and students.

Maddison Ahlbrand is interested in graphic design, so the recently opened Art Institute of Michigan's campus in Troy may be the perfect place for her to pursue her career.

"I heard about this school throughout the country, and when I heard they were opening closer to home, it was perfect," said Ahlbrand, a 17-year-old Birmingham Seaholm graduate. 

Ahlbrand, who attended Art Institute's grand opening reception Wednesday with her grandmother Louise Sachs, said the smaller classes and personalized instruction offered at the school fits her style of learning.

Find out what's happening in Troywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I think it’s really great," she said. "They get to know you more than at some of the bigger schools."

Recruiting officials said an intimate learning environment and a central location are two of the reasons the institute chose to open a campus in Troy. The number of companies doing business in Troy that will be able to partner with the school may also be a benefit to students and the community.

Find out what's happening in Troywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"We love that they are opening across the street," said Brad Frederick, co-founder of Media Genesis, an Internet services company in Troy. "We have a creative department that focuses on design, animation and (other arts)."

Frederick said he was impressed by the facility and offerings at the campus, which offers curriculum that matches a lot of what his company does. "Hopefully it will be a good partnership," he said.

The campus is the second operated by the Art Institute of Michigan, with the first campus opening in Novi. Among the offerings at the Troy campus are degrees in digital photography, graphic design, interior design, media arts and animation, web design and interactive media, fashion marketing and management and digital image management.

The Art Institute of Michigan is a branch of The Illinois Institute of Art — Chicago and a part of The Art Institutes, America's Leader in Creative Education.

One of the goals is for the campus to partner with local businesses to benefit local companies and students, said Reggie Stewart, who heads up business development for the Troy campus.

Shelia Denstaedt, director of resource development for the Troy Chamber of Commerce, said she thinks the new campus will be good for the Troy community.

"It's exciting for the area," she said. "It's development, it's education. It's everything we need right now."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here