Tod Williams ’61: Two Exclusive Architecture Tours Up for Auction at Cranbrook’s Window to the World

Each two-hour tour will accommodate up to ten guests and provide a rare, behind-the-scenes look into the creative journey behind these architectural masterpieces. Williams will personally guide participants through the spaces he helped bring to life, sharing stories from early design concepts to the impact these environments have on the communities they serve.

These exclusive tours will be featured in the Window to the World live auction on May 10 —an evening celebrating innovation, education, and community at Detroit’s newly restored Michigan Central Station. The event will include dinner, dancing, and spirited bidding, with proceeds supporting Cranbrook Schools' educational programs.

Tod Williams and his partner Billie Tsien have spent decades creating spaces that elevate the human experience—schools, museums, cultural centers, and civic landmarks. With a philosophy rooted in thoughtful integrity and optimism, their work includes the Cranbrook Natatorium, the Obama Presidential Center, and the David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center. Their belief in architecture as a lasting, life-giving force shines through in every project.

Williams’ generous contribution to Window to the World reflects a lifelong connection to Cranbrook, where he began as a Brookside student and has continued to serve as a Trustee. These tours offer not only access to world-class architecture, but a meaningful opportunity to support future generations of Cranbrook students.

Learn more about the Window to the World fundraiser
Go to the Alumni Welcome Page 
Go to the Reunion Information Page