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One of Detroit’s most derelict buildings, the 105-year-old Michigan Central Station, is getting a makeover from Ford Motor Company.
The station that was abandoned in 1988 will be the centerpiece of a 1.2-million-square-foot campus. Ford and its partners intend to use the campus to work on its autonomous and electric vehicle businesses, and design services and solutions related to urban mobility.
“We’re excited to start construction on this transformational project,” said Mary Culler, Detroit development director, Ford Motor Company. “The building has been open to the elements for years so the work being done first is mainly internal, weatherizing and making the building stable. Come spring, things will become more visible to the community. And it’s not just physical construction happening, behind the scenes we are designing and planning an urban ecosystem built around the future of mobility.”
Ford estimates the project will bring approximately 2,500 Ford employees to Corktown, and create an additional 2,500 jobs with the company’s partners and suppliers.
Restoring the structure and building the campus is a three-phase project. Phase one is drying out the long-abandoned building. That’s expected to take around six months. Next comes replacing the mechanical and electrical systems, as well as updating the masonry.
The final phase focuses on finishing the interior, and Ford is intent on returning the waiting room to its original grandeur by restoring plaster and other decorative pieces. The automaker plans to use 3D printing to create the various molds and mockups necessary for replicating historic design elements. The final phase also includes creating new office space, areas for public interaction and retail space.
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