Project Description
Dedicated in 1914, the Michigan Central Station is the historic intercity passenger rail station located in Detroit, Michigan. The station building consists of two main sections: a train depot and a thirteen-story office tower. This Beaux-Arts style architecture was seen as a twin to New York City’s Grand Central Station. Sharing similar architectural details and opening only six months apart, both stations were designed by the architectural firms Warren & Wetmore and Reed and Stem, both served as flagship stations on Vanderbilt’s rail lines, and both original concepts included office towers, although Grand Central’s was never built.
Allen Architectural Metals assisted in the rehabilitation of this iconic train station, by restoring three historic monumental cast iron windows and rebuilding four mid-sized windows at the main façade of the building. The main entrance vestibule and atrium storefronts were replicated, exterior sills were repaired, and we furnished the castings to other contractors for installation. The main scope items were the windows at the North elevation. We surveyed the existing structures and provided a comprehensive survey of damage and repair recommendations. Allen Metals worked with the design team and GC to develop and execute the scope. Large portions of the exterior windows were removed for off-site restoration due to the extensive deterioration and overall deformation. The remaining structure was repaired in situ.
