On the third floor, the original commissioner’s office was reimagined as the commissioner’s suite, complete with existing wood paneling that was preserved with (in some cases) some minor repairs and res- toration measures. A first-floor space that was most recently used as a firefighting museum has been repurposed as a private dining room, complete with original wood paneling, vaulted plaster ceiling and terra-cotta-tile flooring.
Other signature elements preserved and/or restored include the trademark 500-pound red firehouse doors that were removed, restored and reinstalled; the brass doors leading into the new front desk area and existing historic stairwell; and the existing marble wainscoting that remains on first-, third- and fourth-floor corridors, vestibules and along the interior walls of the center courtyard. Original marble also covers the walls of the historic first-floor elevator lobby and vestibule, where the ornate detail of the original plaster cove ceiling was subtly brought back to life by carefully painting the space in between the detailing. Cracked plaster and chipped paint were repaired in a way that allowed the original patina and character to be preserved. In fact, many minor cracks were only lightly painted over in a way that lets them remain visible.
Interior preservation and restoration efforts also included removing or pro- tecting some materials to avoid damage during construction. Additional protective measures were taken while installing new windows at the east elevation to preserve original artwork by Charles McGee, a prolific Detroit painter and sculptor who has contributed to the city’s art scene for decades.
Sometimes preservation efforts require some creative license. Most historic wooden doors on the third floor of the property were retained, but some had to be replicated. All existing windows were replaced with exact replicas of the originals. A vintage carpet and desk were added to the lobby area. Inside the restaurant, a “new” tin ceiling was created that, while not a historic find from the building itself, was salvaged from contemporaneous Detroit-area buildings. Using these reclaimed, repurposed and refinished tin ceiling tiles (3,500 square feet of them) from in and around Detroit made it possible to put in the required hanging ceiling while maintaining the style and spirit of the property.
Distinction and Creativity
One fascinating bonus to working with historic buildings is discovering unique features that can become a signature part of the renovated space. In the Foundation Hotel, an intact fireman’s hose tower above a first-floor restaurant corridor spans all five floors of the project. Formerly used as a place to hang used hoses to dry, this vertical passageway is now home to a custom glass globe art piece.
Another unusual feature is the 3- to 4-foot-thick brick wall between the two buildings that had to be cored through. The wall actually tapers gradually with each level, narrowing to about 16 inches by the top of the structure, but it’s a fascinating structural detail for guests–who can see just how thick the dividing wall is when they pass under the hose tower.
A little bit of creativity goes a long way–especially when you can find a way to reconfigure or reuse existing materials in interesting ways. For example, custom-created wooden headboards in each guestroom were built out of reclaimed wood, much of it salvaged from wood trim, wainscoting and doors from the building itself. Custom-designed light fixtures, photographs of historic Detroit architecture on custom wallpaper, and art installations from local artists help to further the connection between the hotel and the city.
Sometimes it’s not just about knowing what to keep but what to discard. Multiple original safes were found throughout the building but, because the safe doors could not be saved (they contained asbestos), none of the safes could stay. The top-floor ballroom was in disrepair and was ultimately removed to make way for additional guestrooms.
When the completed Foundation Hotel project came online in Spring 2017, it immediately became a standout–not only in the city of Detroit, but among all historic hotel renovation efforts. From de?cor to detailing and from art to accents, the Foundation Hotel’s historic connection to Detroit is clear, and the building’s rich and remarkable history has been preserved as an essential part of the aesthetics, the architecture and the guest experience. The result, as online publication Curbed observes, is “an experience that celebrates Detroit’s past while moving it into the future.”
Retrofit Team
Construction Management: Sachse Construction, Detroit
Architect: McIntosh Poris Associates, Birmingham, Mich.
Historic Consultant: Kraemer Design Group, Detroit
Interior Designer: Simeone Deary Design Group, Chicago
Demolition: DKI International, West Bloomfield, Mich.
Masonry and Masonry Restoration: RAM Construction Services, Detroit
Concrete Flatwork: Culver Development LLC, Sterling Heights, Mich.
Structural Steel: American Steel Construction Inc., Livonia, Mich.,
(734) 855-4328, and Nelson Iron Works Inc., Detroit
Roofing: Butcher & Butcher Construction Co. Inc., Rochester Hills, Mich.
New Doors: Rayhaven Group, Livonia
Window, Glass and Door Restoration: Blackberry Systems Inc., Kalamazoo, Mich.
Plastering: Russel Plastering Co., Ferndale, Mich., (248) 543-6575
Ceramic Tile: Wolverine Stone Co., Warren, Mich.
Flooring: Turner-Brooks Inc., Madison Heights, Mich., (248) 548-3400
Painting and Wallcovering: Detroit Spectrum Painters Inc., Warren
Concrete Polishing: Michigan Specialty Coatings, St. Clair, Mich.
Salvaged/Reclaimed Material and Millwork: Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit and MOD Interiors, Ira Township, Mich.
Rough Carpentry: George I. Landry Inc. dba Landry Carpentry/Millwork, Detroit
Finish Carpentry: Morrey’s Contracting, Detroit
Plumbing and Mechanical: Goyette Mechanical Co. Inc., Flint, Mich.
Fire Protection: Simplex Grinnell, Farmington Hills, Mich.
Materials
Acoustic Ceiling Tile: USG and Armstrong Ceiling & Wall Solutions
Acoustic Wall Panels: Armstrong Ceiling & Wall Solutions
Carpet Tile: J+J Flooring Group
Concrete Vanity Front and Backsplash: Dex Industries
Custom Logo Walk-off Carpet: Mats Inc.
Electric Mirror: Seura Elevator Cab Handrail Leather: Garrett Leather
Elevators: Otis Elevator Co.
Floor Tile and Shower Floor Tile: Daltile
Flush-mount Lighting: Restoration Hardware
Glazing Channel and Metal: C.R. Laurence Co. Inc.
Paint: Benjamin Moore
Server station (restaurant): Formica
Stone Vanity Top/Backsplash: Wilsonart
Vinyl Transition Strip: Johnsonite
Wall Tile: Ceramic Technics
Wallcovering: Simeone Deary Design Group, D.L. Couch and Slate Procurement
Photographs of Historic Detroit Architecture on Custom Wallpaper: Detroit Wallpaper Co.
Wood Flooring: Hakwood USA and Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit
PHOTOS: Jason Keen