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David Whitney

Project Size: 292,000 SF

Units: 241

Completion: 2014

Location: Detroit, MI

Designed by D.H. Burnham & Co. and completed in 1915, David Whitney Building underwent adaptive reuse work and re-opened in 2015. Kraemer Design Group led the historic work as well as the architecture, space planning, and interior design.

Today, the David Whitney Building is home to an Aloft Hotel on the lower levels and 105 residential apartments on upper levels. Originally, four stories of retail space wrapped around the atrium and offices wrapped around the light well above. KDG successfully resolved layouts for the two new use groups while retaining the historic corridors which allowed the developer to diversify the risks of development in an insecure market and earn historic tax credits. In addition to the new interior functions, the renovation included new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems and new life safety systems throughout.

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A substantial part of KDG’s historic work was directing the recreation of historic façade details. The building was significantly “modernized” in 1959, including removal of almost all the decorative terra cotta. Italian Renaissance Revival façade details and the rooftop sign were recreated with glass fiber reinforced plastic. The skylight is a character defining feature of the atrium; the team worked diligently to ensure the new skylight structure was laid precisely on top of frame of the historic skylight. Careful planning and execution by the entire team resulted in seamless restoration of the David Whitney, establishing a benchmark for the revitalization of Downtown Detroit.

Markets

Hospitality, Multifamily

Service

AD Architecture

HA Historic Architecture

ID Interior Design

PR Procurement

Project Size: 292,000 SF

Completion: 2014

Units: 241

Location: Detroit, MI

Awards

2015 Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation
Michigan Historic Preservation Network 2015 Tax Credit Award
2015 CREW Detroit Impact Award Adaptive Reuse/Renovation
ENR Midwest’s Best Projects of 2015 Renovation/Restoration
Construction Association of Michigan 2015 Special Issue Recognition Award
Construction Association of Michigan 2015 Project of the Year
BD+C Reconstruction Awards 2015 Platinum
Michigan Chapter International Interior Design Association (IIDA): 2015 Michigan Interior Design Excellence Awards, Best of Multi Use Over 10,000SF