The monumental Book Tower in downtown Detroit is set to receive an update at the hand of ODA New York. First designed in Italian Renaissance style by Louis Kemper in 1916, the 486,760-square-foot office structure will undergo a thorough renovation to host a mix of residential and hospitality spaces, as well as retail and office facilities that spread across 500,000 square feet. Fresh from an exterior update, the redesigned tower will recall its original splendor with the return of a historic art glass skylight, while open sight lines will be emphasized across the building to elevate the pedestrian experience.
“The objective is to add a forward-looking mixed-use program to Detroit’s growing downtown that meets the needs of businesses, visitors and residents alike. The real estate and development firm, Bedrock, has been an important catalyst in this project, understanding the vital role that architecture plays in the systemic evolution of cities,” says Eran Chen, founding principal of ODA New York. “Restoring, designing and engineering the conversion of such a legacy structure requires the utmost reverence for the remarkable history of the property, but also the vision to deliver a civic hub that complements the movement happening in the city.”
