Project Highlights
House of Representatives, Lansing, MI
Office BuildingThe three major building components involved the vertical expansion of the City of Lansing Board of Water and Light Building from a nine story to a fourteen-story facility, the demolition of an existing eight-story building and replacement of a new eleven-story structure and the construction of a seven-story bridge building. Each portion of the complex presented its own challenges and benefits. Most challenging was the existing Board of Water and Light Building, which required much structural upgrading in order to receive the vertical building extension. However, this building provided many benefits, making reuse a positive solution. The existing structure was solid and sound, a major two story lobby existed which only required redecoration, four, two story assembly spaces were located on the third floor; ideal for reuse as committee rooms, and the building contained an existing parking structure at the basement level.
The most exciting portion, the bridge building, provides 37,000 square feet of Representatives offices and meeting space in a dramatic architectural setting. The highlight of this special building is the Mackinac Room located on the fifth floor. The 5,000 square foot assembly space features views of the State governmental complex and to the west and the Grand River and the Lansing Convention Center to the east.
Functional organization provides simple and seamless flow for staff in this 300,000 square foot governmental complex, and organization provides easy access for visitors and guests, while maintaining optimum security for protected areas.
Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts
Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI
Auditoriums, etc The 60,000 sq. ft. performing arts facility, built at a modest cost of $18,000,000, has a commanding presence as an introduction to the campus when approached from the east on highway 41. The building's form is expressive of the function and importance. The metal covered roof design transforms into multifaceted roofs over the lobby space. The building shape is a symbolic representation of a vertical mine shaft and provides a physical link with the area's copper mining history, and the university's original purpose of educating mining engineers. The building's unique form with steep roof slope over the auditorium combined with fifty (50) feet height differential resulting in snow loads on the roof in excess of 400 pounds per square foot and wind loads on the building facade in excess of 50 pounds per square foot.
Book Cadillac Hotel, Detroit, MI
Historic RestorationBuilt in 1923 at a cost of over $14 million the Book Cadillac was the shiniest jewel in Detroit's crown. At 33 stories in height and with three basements, the Book Cadillac was not only the tallest building in Detroit, it was the tallest Hotel in the world. Constructed with a steel column and frame, riveted together, supporting the formed concrete floor slabs and exterior facade. The horizontal beam elements were encased in concrete as part of the floor construction operations. Large built-up steel trusses on the 6th floor (original Duct floor) transferred the column loads from the hotel rooms above to clear span the meeting, banquet and ballrooms below. The structure extends three levels below grade with the basement levels housing the back of house equipment such as laundries, coal fired boilers etc. The exterior walls were constructed of a complex mix of materials with clay tile backup bearing on exterior spandrel beams tied to exterior brick, sandstone, terra-cotta or copper veneer. Vertical and horizontal bands of sandstone, terra-cotta with columns, statues, balconies and water-tables decorated the main elevations.
The Book Cadillac Hotel stood vacant since the mid 1980s. It was stripped of its interior architectural features, the site of a number of fires, home to vagrants, and the subject of demolition discussions. Standing vacant for over two decades resulted in moderate to severe deterioration to the exterior facade and structural skeleton. Water leaking into the interior upper and lower levels resulted in corrosion of steel members and the disintegration of concrete floors due to freeze/thaw action. Water leaking into the exterior facade and horizontal water tables resulted in corrosion of the exterior steel beams, connections and sandstone/terra-cotta embedded connections.
The Ferchill Group's $170 million restoration project, undertaken as a preservation tax credit incentive project, was carried out in three parts: Interior Building Stabilization Project, Exterior Facade Restoration Project and New Addition Project. The Interior Building Stabilization Project began with a detailed condition assessment that included the visual inspection of all walls, columns, beams, slabs and connections. Structural components that were suspected of deteriorations were tagged for further testing or selective demolition for further review. Concrete core test and rebound hammer tests were used to determine the condition of the concrete floor slabs. Test specimens taken from steel beams and columns were analyzed to determine the weldability and the yield stress of the steel. Floor framing plans, based of the original structural drawing were used to detail building stabilization work required on each floor. Various details and techniques were developed and used to reinforce/repair or replace existing elements that had deteriorated, fill in existing openings, or reinforce existing framing for new loading conditions.
The Exterior Facade Restoration Project was lead by Sandvick Architects with Desai/Nasr Consulting Engineers providing structural engineering services. A detailed visual review of the exterior facade was carried out from the contractors swing stages. Areas of concern or showing signs of deterioration were identified and investigated. Inspection pockets in the brick veneer were used to assess the condition of the steel spandrel beams, columns and connections buried in the exterior facade. Sandstone and terra-cotta element were removed to review the condition of the existing connections.
Vast lengths of existing terra-cotta water tables and back-up steel support beams were removed and replaced with new galvanized steel members and molded glass fiber panels to maintain the historic appearance of the facade. Over 1000 lintels were removed and replaced with new galvanized steel lintels with proper flashing and weeps. Large areas of brick were removed and replaced with new brick.
The entire north tower was deemed to be structurally un-safe and was completely demolished down to the 29th floor before being re-constructed out of steel framing with brick and stone veneer to preserve the historic architecture. Every window in the building was replaced with new aluminum framed windows. Special details were developed to support the new window sub-bucks back to the existing masonry walls. New steel or cold formed metal stud post and header framing was introduced at the large window openings to provide lateral to resist wind loads as required by today's building codes. The New Addition Project included a three story addition to the north side of the existing building. Constructed over the site of various previously demolished building with existing basements and foundations, the new addition is supported by deep drilled piers supporting the steel framed building and reinforced concrete grade beams and structural concrete ground floor slab. The structural ground floor slab supports the new swimming pool, loading dock, restaurants and other back of house facilities for the new Westin Hotel. The upper levels of the new addition house part of the hotels main kitchen and a new banquet areas located above the new swimming pool.
Eugene Applebaum School of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Higher Education A state-of-the-art facility which was initially estimated to be in the range of $70 million. Being a state-funded project, our challenge was to find cost-saving solutions to meet a fixed budget of $51 million. Working closely with the University and the CM, Desai/Nasr Consulting Engineers reorganized the building spaces into a more efficient floor plan, reducing the building height and costs associated with hi-rise construction. We minimized the building volume to exterior skin ratio which reduced skin cost as well as operating costs. Stacking office and lab components vertically made mechanical and electrical systems more efficient as well as more adaptable for changing technology. The final design gave the University all of the desired program elements while realizing a 25% cost reduction.
Joan and Sanford Weill Hall
Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Higher Education An 80,000 sq. ft. 5-story building uses a long-span vierendeel frame and transfer girders to allow an open auditorium and classrooms below faculty offices and an exterior plaza. Classical masonry detailing accomplished with innovative steel shelf supports. The building's three primary wings are organized in a U-shape to maximize the amount of natural light received by the spaces within and to embrace an east-facing terrace on the second level. A 200-seat auditorium, a 100-seat lecture hall, and other classrooms have been located on the ground floor, accessible from the south entrance, while much-frequented graduate student spaces have been located on the second floor, organized to create an internal promenade punctuated by windows and doors leading out onto the courtyard terrace. The upper three floors house offices and research centers interspersed with seminar rooms, lounges, and corridor alcoves that will foster social interaction in this unique academic community.
Blue Cross Blue Shield - Service Center
Office BuildingWith its inviting brick plaza and its unique montage of materials, the steel framed six-story 170,000 square foot Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Customer Service Center in downtown Detroit is doing its part to usher in the city's long-awaited renaissance. Skillfully woven into the fabric of the city, the building's brick blends in with the Greektown Casino and with the rich brickwork of St Mary's Church and other historic structures in nearby Greektown and Bricktown. Project highlights include:
A series of transfer trusses that distribute the office building column loading around the large expanse of the two-story auditorium, eliminating the need for interior columns that would interfere with a clear view of the podium.
Three-story high precast clad truss columns along north elevation support building=s 4th level and above.
Six massive and dramatic cantilevered roof trusses at the north and south end of the building , besides supporting the floor loads from fourth, fifth and six levels below. The trusses are clad with precast pieces each weighing twenty tons.
A 118 foot brick tower backed by a steel frame visually anchors the service center to the corner of Lafayette and Beaubien, while the upper levels of precast concrete stretch horizontally along the length of the street. The horizontal windows of the upper three stories mirror those of the Blue Cross Blue Shield tower, a city landmark and corporate icon, long recognized as the defining structure of one of downtown Detroit's largest employers.
Willys Overland, Detroit, MI
Historic RestorationBuilt in 1912, this facility was home to Willys Overland Motor Company, best known for the production of the WWII military Jeeps. Originally a showroom and later expanded to include a regional repair center, the building is being renovated to include over 75 residential lofts. Also included are two additional stories of penthouse units and first floor retail space. Understanding the value of the building's heritage is fundamental in this restoration. From reconditioning the original building signage, to exposing the original brick interiors, we understand the glory is in the details.
Floor plans include one, two and three bedroom units ranging from 1,000 – 3,000 square feet. The unit interiors will be customizable and feature 13-15 ft ceilings, floor to ceiling windows and balconies.
Kennedy Square Office Building, Detroit, MI
Office BuildingBuilt on top of the existing city owned underground parking structure, the 10 story glass clad One Kennedy Square Office Building is across from Campus Martius, Downtown Detroit.
Transferring the column grid from the original triangular building shape to the proposed rectangular shape with re-entrant corners required a network of transfer girders. Two corners columns were cantilevered over the street below and hung from the diagonal ties starting at the seventh floor.
Conceptual designed through construction took little over one years requiring a coordinated effort from all team members.
Department of Veterans & Military Affairs
C.S.M.S.
State of Michigan/Dept. of Management & Budget
Lansing, MI
Institutional The Combined Support Maintenance Shop provides inspection, repair of mechanical, Metal, canvas, glass elements, engine testing and rebuilding, fuel injection testing and rebuilding, as well as body work welding, stripping and painting for military vehicles of all types and sizes, up to eighty feet in length. The facility will also handle armament inspection and repairs, radar repair, as well as army communications equipment inspection and repairs for the Michigan area.
The 155,735 SF Michigan CSMS project is based upon adapting and improving a 122,531 SF vanguard design at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. Its infrastructure will support 111 mechanics, armament workers and inspectors, as well as 16 State Maintenance Office workers.
