Quinn Evans designed the building’s transformation. The joint venture team of Christman-Brinker served as contractor and construction manager for the historic construction manager at risk project.
Purchased by Ford in 2018, Michigan Central Station features approximately 640,000 square feet of space, including a 13-story tower set atop the street-level main terminal and basement levels. The Beaux-Arts structure, once celebrated among the nation’s most prominent early 20th century train stations, was designed by Warren & Wetmore and Reed & Stern, who also served as the architectural team for New York City’s Grand Central Station.
Michigan Central Station has been a city landmark for more than a century and was at one time the tallest train station in the world. Despite its deteriorating condition, Ford recognized the building’s potential as the centerpiece of Michigan Central, the company’s 1.2-million-square-foot technology hub in Corktown, Detroit’s oldest neighborhood.
Ford’s plan for development of the hub includes both new construction and the rehabilitation of numerous industrial buildings and public spaces to serve as labs and workspaces, collaboration areas, testing infrastructure, event and exhibition spaces, restaurants, and retail. Ford is developing the district as an inclusive, innovation-driven platform to advance sustainable and accessible mobility solutions. The development team engaged extensively with community members throughout the planning process with a goal of creating a mixed-use destination, spurring equitable economic development, and helping to revitalize the southwest Detroit community. In all, Ford anticipates spending $950 million on the Michigan Central technology district, including the train station and redevelopment of adjacent properties.
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Quinn Evans first began work to assess the condition of Michigan Central Station in 2011, while the building was still under its previous ownership. That initial effort, combined with subsequent steps over the following years to help stabilize and protect the vacant structure, enabled the design firm to readily assist Ford in formulating its multi-phase plan to restore the building.
The renovation began in 2018 with a detailed structural analysis and efforts to address decades of moisture damage. Quinn Evans also meticulously researched the building’s history, locating original drawings and blueprints in the Michigan state archives.
“Understanding and preserving the station’s historic significance and symbolism to the city of Detroit was an essential component of the building’s restoration,” said Richard Hess, AIA, Principal Architect with Quinn Evans. “Michigan Central Station has always been a symbol of Detroit’s resilience and ingenuity. With Ford’s commitment to the future of mobility, the renovation is an extraordinary example of what can be achieved when integrating innovation and technology with existing buildings in terms of sustainability, stewardship, and craftsmanship, not to mention the positive impact on the local community.”
In addition to extensive structural repairs and restoration of the facade, highlights of the design effort include the restoration of the Guastavino vaulted terra cotta tile ceiling in the grand hall, restoration of the monumental cast-iron windows on the north facade, replacement of the copper and skylight roof systems, and integration of all-new building systems into the historic detailing.
In order to prevent further loss of the historic fabric and meet Ford’s expedited schedule, the design team began issuing bid sets in early 2019 to address the structure, building envelope, and interior restoration systematically. By 2024, more than two dozen bid packages were implemented, involving more than 400 specialty contractors.
Contemporary technology aided the design and construction, including the use of laser scanning, advanced modeling, and 3D printing. The replacement of the exterior stone capitals, for example, involved hand carving an 11,500-pound replica from a block of limestone, followed by the development of a 3D template to create the additional capitals via both CNC machining and hand carving.
“Throughout this project, we used a hybrid approach to restore and replicate original elements,” said Angela Wyrembelski, Senior Associate with Quinn Evans. “We applied the latest design technology and compatible alternate materials, but we also relied on expert craftsmen including masons and plasterers. Many of the materials are hand-finished, such as decorative painting to resemble stonework or stained wood. It was exciting to be able to marry cutting-edge processes with heritage craftsmanship to honor the century-old design of this station.”
Michigan Central Station’s grand hall (the former waiting room), arcade, concourse, and tea and reading rooms recently reopened to the public. Work will continue on offices in the tower, as well as additional restaurants and retail spaces, public art displays, and community and event spaces. Additional phases will include the rehabilitation of the Carriage House, a historic cast iron structure on the west side of the station; and Michigan Central Park, a landscaped civic space created on the site of the station’s train shed.
