Award-Winning Preservation |
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Left to right: Quentin L. Messer, Jr., Chief Executive Officer Chair, Michigan Economic Development Corporation; Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan; Jim Barbour, Midwest Regional Manager, Graham Windows; Peter Cummings, Executive Chairman, The Platform; Clarke Lewis, President, The Platform; Brian Rebain, Principal, Kraemer Design Group; Todd Nancarrow, Vice President, Grunwell-Cashero; Ryan Schumacher, State Historic Preservation Officer, Michigan State Historic Preservation Office. |
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| Piquette Flats, recently honored with the 2026 Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation at the MHPN Conference, exemplifies the transformative power of adaptive reuse.
Located at 411 Piquette Avenue in Detroit’s Milwaukee Junction neighborhood, the former industrial building has been reimagined into a 161‑unit residential community, reactivating a long‑underutilized historic asset. Owned and developed by The Platform, the project reflects a strategic investment in both Detroit’s heritage and its future growth. |
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| Piquette Flats Entrance View. Photo Credit: KDG |
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| Delivered in partnership with PCI‑Dailey through a design‑build approach, the project leveraged a fully integrated process that aligned design, construction, and budget in real time – critical to the successful rehabilitation of a complex historic structure. |
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Supported by historic tax credits, Piquette Flats balances preservation with performance, maintaining the integrity of the original architecture while introducing contemporary living environments. Built in 1920, the former Studebaker Service Building was designed by Albert Kahn for the Studebaker Corporation and originally served as a die shop, paint facility, and chassis assembly plant. The 110,000-square-foot, four-story reinforced concrete structure featured an open floor plan and expansive steel windows that were purposefully designed to flood the interior with natural light and ventilation – qualities that have been thoughtfully leveraged in its adaptive reuse. The inclusion of workforce housing, with rents below 100% of area median income, expands access to quality housing while honoring the building’s industrial legacy and supporting Detroit’s evolving workforce. |
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Oversized original Elevator Doors were utilized as art in the main lobby. Special blocking considerations were added into the wall to accommodate their weight. |
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The design celebrates the building’s industrial history prominently featuring reinforced concrete martini columns. |
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More than a redevelopment, Piquette Flats is a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization – bringing new residents, renewed energy, and long-term investment to Milwaukee Junction. It reinforces KDG’s commitment to unlocking the value of historic structures and delivering design solutions that are both community-focused and forward-looking. |
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Hospitality Insights from IHG’s Design Immersion in Atlanta
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Hotel Indigo Model Guestroom at the IHG Design Center |
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Kraemer Design Group recently attended the IHG Design Immersion at IHG’s corporate headquarters in Atlanta, a dynamic, two-day program designed to showcase the full spectrum of IHG brands, from essentials to premium. This immersive experience brought together industry leaders, designers, and brand teams for a deep dive into the latest hospitality trends and design standards. The agenda featured brand overviews, interactive sessions with IHG’s design and construction leadership, and collaborative discussions on procurement, sustainability, and dual-brand strategies. Highlights included presentations from Garner Hotels, avid Hotels, Holiday Inn Express, Atwell Suites, EVEN Hotels, Crowne Plaza, voco Hotels, Hotel Indigo, and the newest addition to the brand Ruby Hotels, among others. A standout moment was the visit to the IHG Design Center, where Jennifer and Jennifer toured model guestrooms for each brand. Seeing the latest finishes, layouts, and amenity integrations firsthand was invigorating, offering a tangible look at how IHG is responding to evolving guest expectations and operational needs. The model rooms reflected a thoughtful balance of comfort, durability, and brand identity, underscoring the importance of design in shaping memorable guest experiences. |
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This immersion reinforced the value of ongoing collaboration between designers, brand leaders, and procurement partners. It also highlighted IHG’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence across its portfolio. |
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Jennifer Elmore, Director of Architecture and Jennifer Dwyer, Director of Interior left inspired, ready to apply these insights to future hospitality projects and continue elevating design standards for owners, operators, and guests. Thank you to the IHG team for hosting such a forward-thinking program. With fresh insight into IHG’s brand strategies and the latest hospitality design trends, KDG looks forward to applying this knowledge to thoughtfully design your next hospitality project- aligning brand standards, guest experience, and long-term value from day one. |
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| Let’s connect & build your next project together. |
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