The building is located across from the famous Ypsilanti Water Tower on Cross Street and is a contributing property to the Eastern Michigan University Historic District.

Designed by Detroit architect Frank Eurich Jr. in an Art Deco style,[5] construction of the McKenny Union began on November 8, 1930.

[8] In 1963, an expansion by the architectural firm of Jickling & Lyman of Birmingham, Michigan[9] began and the enlarged union, now featuring a bookstore in the basement and a bowling alley.

[7] From 1992 to early 1993, the union was again renovated, adding a new roof, a first floor bookstore, a loading dock, a passenger elevator, a bank, a food court, and barrier-free access.

In the early 2000s, Eastern Michigan began to develop concepts for the expansion of McKenny Union due to its limited space and services in comparison to the university's growing student population.