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New Life for an Urban Landmark
Michigan Central Station
Michigan Central Station
We transformed Detroit’s iconic train station into the centerpiece of a new mobility hub for the Ford Motor Company. Collaborating closely with Ford, we led a multidisciplinary team of architects, engineers, historians, and conservation specialists to rehabilitate the monumental structure. The renewed Station houses a dynamic mix of cutting-edge office, retail, and public space.
The Station is the centerpiece Ford’s Corktown innovation district, which generates $3 billion in annual economic impact and has served as a catalyst for further investment in the city. Our design for the Station incorporates preservation and placemaking strategies to create a welcoming and inspiring setting that connects Detroit’s pioneering past to a promising future.
Awards
Design Award, AIA DC / Building Award, AIA Michigan / Excellence in Design, AIA Maryland / Honor Award, AIA Richmond / Honor Award, AIA Virginia / Impact Award, CREW Detroit / Project of the Year, CoreNet Michigan / Metamorphosis Award, Retrofit Magazine / North American Copper in Architecture Award, Copper Development Association / Redevelopment of the Year, CoStar Impact Awards / Palladio Award, Traditional Buliding / Project of the Year, CAM Magazine / Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation, Michigan State Historic Preservation Office
If all we did was to restore this fabulous building and make it sparkle, that would be great. But we’re going to do much more than that. It’s really about creating the future of transportation. And doing it in Corktown.
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Revitalizing Corktown
Among the few surviving grand railroad stations from the early 20th century, the elegant Beaux-Arts building was completed in 1913. Following a decline in rail ridership, the Station sat vacant for three decades before Ford acquired it in 2018. Since then, the area surrounding the Station has seen a 13% increase in population, 35% increase in housing units, and 20% decrease in unemployment.
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Community Placemaking
The Station’s grand waiting room, ticket lobby, and concourse have been restored as public spaces for daily activation, special events, and pop-ups. Adjacent spaces provide dynamic dining, retail, and interpretive experiences. All spaces are designed to evolve as the district continues to grow and change.
Exterior Restoration
We worked closely with a structural engineer and mason to develop a collaborative approach for extensive masonry cleaning and repairs. Our envelope design is informed by analysis from a suite of advanced modeling tools, which helped us identify ways to make the envelope more energy efficient.
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Supporting Historic Tax Credits
The project received Historic Tax Credits (HTCs) through the Federal Historic Tax Incentives Program. Our design complies with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, a requirement for a successful HTC application. Learn more about HTCs here.
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Storytelling Moments
The wealth of artifacts and stories associated with the Station provided us with a unique opportunity to ground this forward-thinking development in Detroit’s history. We developed interpretive themes that guided the display of historic objects and the preservation of graffiti along the concourse ramp.
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Systems Integration
We seamlessly integrated complex modern building systems into the historic fabric of the grand public spaces, upgrading their comfort without compromising their integrity. In the office tower, IT and HVAC systems are designed to be flexible and adaptable to tenants’ requirements.
