Critical Detroit

Happy Birthday to the Fisher Building

2008-11-12T11:42:11Z

The Fisher Building turned 80 years old yesterday. If you haven't had a chance to visit this Detroit jewel, you need to drop everything and head down there.

We've covered this building before a couple times:
Unbuilt Detroit
Yes, It Really is Art Deco

The last article includes links to the National Historic Register and a nice piece by the Detroit News.

AIA Michigan Website Adds Award Info (Finally)

2008-10-08T12:08:16Z

The AIA Michigan website has finally updated their website to include information on the latest AIA Michigan award winners.

It actually has some really nice images of all the projects. The commentary (at least for buildings) are limited to the jury reaction and some basic project information.

So all you people looking for information (Yes, I do keep on eye on the search logs) on the James Clarkson Environmental Discovery Center at the Indian Springs Metropark can learn more at the AIA Michigan website.

Unbuilt Detroit

2008-10-03T12:07:53Z

I recently ran across an old Detroit Free Press (October 27, 1991) article about unbuilt architecture projects in downtown Detroit. Written by John Gallagher (still writing about architecture) and illustrated by Dick Rochon (later known as Richard), who has produced many architectural renderings over the years. If you can find one, take a look at a hand drawn rendering of Detroit architecture the next time you see one. Chances are it's one if Rochon's.
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The first few projects were canceled due to the Great Depression during the 1920's.

Fisher Building (Albert Kahn) - Everyone is familiar with today's Fisher Building, but did you know that what you see today is actually one of three towers that the Fisher Family planned to construct? The original plan would have occupied the entire block from 2nd to 3rd along West Grand Boulevard and consists of a large 60-story tower flanked by two smaller towers. Only the smaller eastern most tower was built before the Great Depression.
Hart Plaza (Eliel Saarinen) -What you see today are only bits and pieces of his original plan which also included a soaring tower, domed memorial hall, and an exposition hall & convention center. This project was approved by voters, but the Great Depression made it difficult (impossible?) to actually obtain the money.
Book Tower (Louis Kamper) - The Book Family, who had already built the Book Building and the Book-Cadillac, had plans for a third even grander tower. They had plans for a 70-story building that would have been the tallest building in Detroit, until the RenCen came along in the 70's.

The next major project was the Renaissance Center (John Portman) in the 1970's. If you can believe it, the overall plan was much more elaborate and included at least six more towers, another hotel, and a residential complex along the Detroit River. However, the initial stages of the building saturated the market and the remaining towers were never built (Thankfully).

Even during the 1990's there were a couple notable buildings that were proposed but never built.

Comerica Tower (Cesar Pelli) - In 1990, Pelli worked with Comerica Bank to design new headquarters building. The plan included demolishing the Ford Auditorium which generated tremendous public outcry (at the time) and the project was eventually cancelled.
Two Detroit Center (John Burgee & Phillip Johnson) - At the time of the article, One Detroit Center was under construction and plans were in place to create an identical twin tower to the east. Softening market conditions put the second tower on indefinite hold. A parking deck currently occupies the site. One Detroit Center, now known as Comerica Tower, remains the last skyscraper built in the city.

Other plans that didn't get built:

Riverfront Park - Ok, this one did get built, but at the time of the article, it was noted that architects had long championed a park from Downtown to Belle Isle. City planners had placed more priority on expanding the tax base rather than creating public land. Gallagher predicted that the riverfront would likely see commercial development rather than the development of parkland.
Woodward Mall - Responding to the suburbs innovative (not my word) plans to redevelop their downtowns, a local architect responded by designing a glass canopy for Woodward Avenue with a pedestrian plaza underneath. Federal grant money that was anticipated for this project was never awarded and the project was, thankfully, canceled.

If you'd like to read the entire article it's available for viewing online [ via Scribd ]. You will need to register if you want to download it. I've also made it available for download directly from Critical Detroit if you don't feel like registering.

Also, if you know of any recent unbuilt projects, please drop us a line. I'd love to publicize more of them. I'm particularly interested in any projects that involve anything on the riverfront, like new convention center locations (not on the riverfront? - I know it's out there), lowering Jefferson Avenue downtown (The not so Big Dig), and relocating JLA to create more space for Hart Plaza.

Tiger Stadium Update

2008-10-02T12:40:08Z

I'll spare you any obvious baseball analogies, but things are not looking good for Tiger Stadium.

The Preservation Group has until Tuesday (October 7th) to pay $219,000 or the Detroit City Council could vote to proceed with demolition of the entire stadium. At the moment, the stadium is still intact from dugout to dugout.

The Conservancy expects to have the money available, but it seems dependent on finalizing the agreement between the city and the Conservancy. The agreement includes a funding deadline of March 2010 for the Conservancy to raise $15 million to renovate the remaining portion of the stadium into a museum.

To make matters worse, Ernie Harwell quietly resigned from his position several weeks ago and the Ernie Harwell Foundation was forced to return $500,000 in donations that it had received in support of specific provisions that were eliminated by the DEGC. Harwell will have to look elsewhere for a facility to house his sports memorabilia collection

Highland Park Jewel

2008-09-08T11:35:26Z

Highland Park's McGregor Library opened in 1926 and stood for nearly 80 years. The beaux-arts styled library quickly became a gathering place for the rapidly growing (thanks to Ford) community of Highland Park. It was closed in 2002 as the city continued to struggle financially.

In 2006, Highland Park received a $25 million state grant as part of the Cities of Promise initiative. They have already used a portion of the grant to reopen the Ernest T. Ford Field House and has been working to reopen the shuttered library.

The library is listed on the State Register of Historic Places and the Michigan Historical Center is actively involved with this project.

Highland Parks plans to reopen the library in 2009.

AIA Debates Detroit "Design Parallels"?

2008-08-13T13:22:07Z

Even though this event happened in April 2008, I hesitate to publish this for a variety of reasons which I'll get to later.

First, a little background about the event. The AIA Committee on Design was founded to "promote design excellence among members of the AIA, the broader design community, and the public at large, both nationally and internationally." In keeping with their goals, the committee held a debate in Detroit from April 3rd thru April 6th to debate parallels between architecture and other forms of design including automotive, landscape, furniture, and crafts.

John Gallagher put together a nice little article which amounts to a daily journal of the days events. ]]>

Landscape - Belle Isle, Cranbrook, Kresge Foundation
Automotive - Ford Rouge Plant, GM Technical Center
Crafts - Cranbrook, Affleck House
Furniture - Cranbrook, Affleck House

They also visited many other significant buildings in Metro Detroit.

Unfortunately, the article provides little insight to the debate. Apparently, outside of Detroit there is little love among architects for automotive design and no consensus was reached regarding design parallels. We''ll have to wait until after September 4th to see if the committee really does reach a consensus, as agreed, in Copenhagen.

You can read through the article and draw your own conclusions. I'll share my own to get the ball rolling and the reason I hesitated to publish this.

First, this article provides little insight into the debate. Where is an depth discussion to compare design methodology, technological impact, and target audience between these forms of design? Does each field even define design the same way? Does each field share certain traits or even generate responses between industries? (I am grateful that MGM wasn't completed so they could see the "consummate" result of combining automotive and architectural design.)

Second, the buildings visited are mostly from a very specific time period. They visited some of Detroit's most prominent historical buildings. How can you compare contemporary compartmentalized automotive design with the all encompassing design of Saarinen's Cranbrook? Why not compare Cranbrook with automotive design at the time?

Third, there is no mention of design professionals from other fields being engaged or even present at this debate. This one point alone really makes me question how productive this debate really was and wonder what it could have been.

Finally, some of the published comments really make me cringe. As an architect, I'm embarrassed by these comments, but I'll publish them anyway. A few of my favorites:

"...automotive design 'is really packaging.'"
"My impression is that they're really decorators."(referring to an automotive designer)
"They all read the same comic books."
"...it is so much more about marketing, so much more about fashion."
"It's like nobody really designs a car. It's all these little pieces, and that's totally different."

These are some pretty ignorant statements by some Fellows of the AIA (which means they've been recognized by the AIA for their contributions to the field) and really exposes their misunderstanding of how automotive and architectural design are related. Substitute "building" for "car" or "automotive" and these statements would be just as relevant to architectural design. One could substitute any of the debated design forms and it still makes sense.

I realize this is a feature article, not a final white paper, and it's intended to promote the committee and raise awareness. However, the lack of insightful debate and participation from other design fields make this out to be nothing more than a site seeing trip for the committee.

AIA Michigan Design Retreat [Updated]

2008-08-13T12:05:22Z

~~Has anybody seen their invitation to the 19th Annual Design Retreat?~~ I finally got my invitation! The AIA Michigan website site has a calendar entry for the event, but the link points to last year's event. The only note is in the upper left corner of the page which indicates that the retreat is on September 12th thru 14th.

Typically, current year honor award winners are asked to present at the retreat. If you've forgotten who received awards this year take a look at our recap. Two days of presentations are followed by a guest lecturer talking about Michigan relevant architecture on Saturday evening. ~~Anybody have information about this years presenter?~~ A list of presenters was also included with the invitation. Read on to learn which projects will be presented this year.
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Gwinnet Environmental and Heritage Center - Lord Aeck & Sargent Architecture
Lamar Construction Company Headquarters - Integrated Architecture
Science Addition and Allied Health Expansion, GOCC - DSA Architects
West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology - Progressive AE
James Clarkson Environmental Discovery Center - SmithGroup, Inc.
St. Joseph's Recovery Center - Design Collaborative Design Center
St. Gertrude Catholic Church - Constantine George Pappas Architecture
M.U.D./M.U.P. Student Lounge - Neal Robinson, Architect
Warren Civic Center - Neumann/Smith Architecture
Honolulu House Museum - Architecture + Design
Ashka Salon and Spa - Biddison Architecture + Design
Team Detroit - Gensler
Rubin Residence - McIntosh Poris Associates
Kalamazoo Transportation Center - Kingscott Associates, Inc.
Global Headquarters Office Building - Albert Kahn Associates, Inc.
Siaulu Arena - Barton Malow Design

The final presentation, usually given after dinner, is titled LTU "AloeTerra" Presentation. Anybody have any information for this presentation?

Preservation Wayne Seeking New Leadership

2008-08-11T21:33:41Z

Crains Detroit had a very small write-up (it's about halfway down the page) in their August 4th edition announcing that Francis Grunow is resigning as Executive Director to pursue other interests. A search is currently underway for her successor, but no definite timeframes have been set.

Yes, it really is Art Deco...

2008-08-04T11:38:45Z

I went on the GM Architectural Heritage Tour (offered by Preservation Wayne) this past weekend and realized that I've forgotten a bit of the history that I worked so hard to learn in school.

The tour, only offered twice a year, explored the New Center and Milwaukee Junction areas just north of Midtown. The tour started and ended at the Fisher Building, including a stop at the Cadillac Building, and walks around other buildings figuring prominently in Detroit's automotive beginnings.

Unfortunately, Preservation Wayne wasn't granted permission to tour the 14th floor (old GM executive offices) of the Cadillac Building. For me personally, this was one of the main reasons for joining the tour. If the next tour (September 13th) is given permission, I'll be back. (Ellen?)
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I've calmed down, taken a deep breath, and dusted off my history books. The pictures in my head inappropriately filed under Art Deco were actually Streamline Moderne, a later development of the Art Deco style.

Art Deco is a purely decorative style with no philosophical intentions. The style is described as elegant, and stylishly modern influenced by a variety of styles including African, Ancient Egyptian, Ancient Mexican, and American Indian "primitive" arts. It is also described as a very lavish and opulent style. Art Deco architecture incorporated stepped forms, sweeping curves, and chevron & sunburst patterns. Considering that Art Deco gained popularity in 1925, it's opulence has been attributed as a reaction to the forced, simple, and unadorned style imposed an economy recovering from World War I.

If you've ever seen the Fisher Building up close it's easy to understand opulent. Both inside and out, the decorations are numerous and amazing. The overall building form gracefully steps back and ends at a green terra cotta roof. When originally built, the roof was gilded with gold. What else would you expect? How about another tower of equal height and another one twice as tall as the existing? (If anyone has a rendering of this plan, please let me know.) The original plans included 3 phases built over a period of time. Unfortunately, the onset of the Great Depression prevented the second and third phases from being built.

I'll admit it. I was confused. The Fisher Building has been recognized as one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture. Of course everyone recognizes the Chrysler Building in New York City as Art Deco, but there's one more well known Art Deco building in Detroit. Do you know which one it is?

Thanks Ellen & John for the great tour. Let me know if you ever get access the the 14th floor of the Cadillac Building.

Visit any of these links if you'd like to learn more:

The Most Beautiful Building in the World [ via Detroit News ]
National Historic Register
New Center Council

MOCAD : considering Architecture

2008-08-03T22:22:58Z

The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) hosted an architecture related exhibit from May10th thru July 28th that seems to have "flown under the radar." In fact, the only reference I could find besides the MOCAD site was an even smaller article at Model D. Once again I'm dismayed that the local press does little to promote local architecture. If I'm wrong, please let me know by leaving a comment.

In case you're interested, here's a brief excerpt from the MOCAD website:

In conjunction with MOCAD's considering Detroit show, considering Architecture: Sustainable Designs from Detroit will also be on view. This show will include the designs, architecture and products of several local area architecture firms and highlight their projects that include "green" or sustainable design practices.

Did anyone make it to this? I'd love some feedback on the projects included in the exhibit.

Container Housing

2008-07-20T16:19:42Z

The last couple months, the local newspapers have highlighted some green architecture initiatives. We previously reported a couple of firsts for Michigan in LEED certified projects. This one is more focused on reuse and recycling of existing shipping containers.

Keep your eyes on the southeast corner of Rosa Parks and Warren as this project starts to take shape this Fall with expected completion sometime next summer.

Model D has quite an extensive article about the architects involved and the interest from the educational and cultural communities.

Tiger Stadium Update

2008-06-27T11:48:41Z

This past week construction crews started erecting a construction fence around Tiger Stadium. While a demolition date has not been set yet, construction companies are proceeding with obtaining permits required to raze the historic stadium.

The Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy group has until August 1 to prove it has a financial plan to save the diamond, 3000 seats, and create a sports memorabilia museum. Senator Levin is also trying to secure federal funding to help the group reach it's goal of $12 million - $15 million.

The Conservancy has finally launched a website to provide additional project details and request donations to preserve a portion of the old stadium.

Another group, Friends of Tiger Stadium, also has some interesting information available on the web.

Even other parts of the country are interested in what happens to Tiger Stadium: Tiger Stadium Faces Partial Demolition Amid Opposition [ NY Times ]

For those that don't know, Tiger Stadium is listed on both the National & State Register of Historic Places:

State Register
National Register

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Belle Isle Maritime Academy

2008-06-11T12:33:05Z

John Gallagher (Detroit Free Press) has written an article arguing for greater public input about future development on Belle Isle.

Without losing site of the real issue, Mayor Kilpatrick and a well repected design team have been working on a plan to restore the Detroit Boat Club building and create a generous campus around it to support a Maritime Academy.

The impact on Belle Isle should not be taken lightly. Detroit needs to step up and demand public debate on what is arguably the city's recreational jewel.

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Why not somewhere else? There are many alternate locations that a Maritime Academy could be located. Why not take advantage of the momentum and public excitement of the River Walk and strategically place it to extend the walk further in either direction? Additional development would then affect the city, where it is needed, and not Belle Isle.

Quicken Loans - Update

2008-06-03T12:20:45Z

The Free Press is reporting that Quicken Loans is actually considering building on both properties currently under review. It was announced last year that Dan Gilbert would be relocating Quicken Loans to one of two sites in Detroit: The Hudson's site or the Statler site. The first building would be for his headquarters and the second one would presumably be a mixed retail/commercial/residential building potentially housing some of Gilbert's other companies.

Planning has been underway for both sites as Gilbert studies each site and has until November 15, 2008 to make a decision.

Also important to remember is that Matt Cullen, the former GM Head of Economic Development, now works for Quicken Loans to head their planning and economic development issues. Based on his track record with the GM Building and the RiverWalk, Cullen adds to the hope and certainty that these projects may actually come to fruition.

Article [ via Free Press ]

One last bit of information:

"Beyond the Hudson's and Statler sites, Quicken's development agreement with the city gives Gilbert control of two smaller parcels downtown. One is the vacant Lafayette Building west of Campus Martius, and the other consists of surface parking at Broadway and Library."

These are small lots in comparison, but combined with an earlier report that Gilbert (along with Roger Penske) is heavily involved in the privately funded light rail on Woodward between Hart Plaza and the New Center area illustrate Gilbert's commitment to Detroit.

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Green Michigan Firsts

2008-06-02T12:31:06Z

Two Michigan projects have made history by attaining LEED certification for their buildings.

LaFontaine Buick Pontiac GMC Cadillac, located at the northern edge of Oakland County, is expected to receive a Gold certification. It is the first dealership in Michigan and may very well be the first in the nation to receive a LEED designation.

Christman Construction Company, based in Lansing, has received (2) Platinum awards (the highest award given) for the interior and exterior of the building. It is the first building in the world to reach platinum level in two categories. There are (9) buildings around the world that have reached LEED Platinum for their interiors and (4) that have reached LEED Platinum for their exteriors.