Inventive Floor Plan
The first level’s auditorium created two challenges. The impressive space had 18- foot ceilings, which were not conducive to an office environment. HAA needed to add workplace lighting that served occupant needs. The designers suspended contemporary open-square light fixtures that hang 12 feet above the floor. “We wanted to bring down the scale of the space for the occupants so they wouldn’t feel like they were in a cavern,” Decoster explains. “The fixtures provide the right illumination for the office workers and intimate a ceiling plane.”
The auditorium had a sloping floor over two-thirds of the space that could not be reused for an open office space plan, but HAA’s analysis found that removing the entire floor was too costly. The team devised a way to retain the same amount of floor space needed for DTE’s office program by dividing the space into two sections. They installed a flat, raised floor over the sloped area and built a raised platform on the back third.
There is a 30-inch drop between the two office sections, which are separated by a few stairs. The divided space is visible from the mezzanine so HAA borrowed third-floor materials to create a protective partition. “We cut wooden doors from the former single-residency occupant hotel into sections and designed it into a wave-like pattern that mirrors the building form outside. It offers visual interest to that partition wall, giving the space some character and whimsy,” Decoster says.
The stage became three glass conference rooms and a curved seating area facing them. Light-colored marble from the basement’s original bathroom partitions was reused as partitions in between the upholstered bench seats. The conference rooms interior-facing glass walls are shaded with an opaque square treatment for privacy while allowing natural light to filter in. The square pattern recalls the original glass block retained on the lower-level offices and select windows.
“As we redesigned the interior spaces to maximize the efficiency and flexibility of
a new office space, the key was to open up the spaces, bring enough light inside and highlight spots of color,” Decoster notes. “To enhance a sense of community between levels, we cut openings in the mezzanine that look onto the first floor and near the elevator to look down into the lower level.”
Red accents on walls, conference glass, furnishings and carpet areas lend a contemporary atmosphere to the space.
Systems’ Placement
New mechanical and technology systems that support an active office environment were housed behind the stage to avoid installing equipment on the roof. A cooling tower was placed outside the building. Ductwork and distribution systems are hid- den behind vertical wood slats.
The third floor is U-shaped space that wraps around an exterior light court. It had very low ceiling heights leaving no room for ductwork. The designers brought fresh air from the second-floor ceiling up to the third floor through vents placed near the work zones, similar to a displacement ventilation system.
Hotel rooms were removed on the third floor to create open office areas. “With the low 8-foot ceiling heights and long narrow corridors, we exposed the roof deck to create a 10-foot-high volume,” Decoster explains. “It’s an illusion that gives the occupants a greater sense of space.”
HAA pulled from DTE’s extensive archive of historic Detroit photos and placed the im- ages on walls throughout the interior. “We wanted to respect the building’s historic character and its place in the city while bridging that with a modern aesthetic,” Decoster says. “In addition to providing needed offices for DTE, the project serves to catalyze future growth in the area.”
Retrofit Team
Architecture, Landscape Architecture: Hamilton Anderson Associates, Detroit
- Michael Decoster, architect
- Carrie DaVia, Patrick Taylor and Chris Riggert, landscape architects
Mechanical/Electrical Engineering: Peter Basso Associates, Troy, Mich.
Structural Engineering: SDI Structures, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Construction Manager: Brinker Group MBE, Detroit
Millwork: Wally Kosorski & Co. Inc., Clinton Township, Mich., (586) 791-1100
Materials
Elevator: KONE Corp.
Windows: YKK AP
Glass: PPG
Gypsum Board And Acoustic Ceiling Tile: USG
Open-square Light Fixtures (First FLoor): Zenith Lighting
Office Furniture: Allsteel
Carpet: Interface
HVAC: Daikin
Detroit Overcomes Financial Turmoil
After declaring a financial emergency and subsequently filing for bankruptcy in 2013, Detroit has been steadily redeveloping and reinventing itself. In 2014, owners of the Detroit Red Wings hockey team announced plans to build the currently coined Little Caesar’s Arena and a 50-block sports and entertainment district to connect downtown and midtown. Slated to open in the fall, the arena also will be the new home of the Detroit Pistons NBA basketball team. Corporate development in downtown has risen in recent years, as well, with businesses like Quicken Loans relocating its headquarters to the city’s center.
PHOTOS: Justin Maconochie, Maconochie Photography
1 Comment
I love the saving of any of our beautiful buildings