Detroit’s decline made national news for decades, and among the most prominent examples of this was Michigan Central Station, a grand train station designed by the same architects that designed Grand Central Station in New York.
The massive Beaux-Arts building had decayed to a point of nearly needing to be demolished, with thousands of broken windows, falling bricks, and graffiti everywhere. Indeed, it symbolized the region’s decline.
To great relief, Ford Motor Company announced they would be purchasing and restoring the landmark in 2018, and spent the last six years and over $700 million to completely restore the building.
Check out the before photos, followed by the rebirth of this iconic landmark.
The building in 2010, still showed its promise, but was in dire shape.
The grand entrance of the station was in serious disrepair.
(Photo Credit: Rick Harris/ CC BY-SA 2.0)
For decades the building sat surrounded by barbed wire, a symbol of Detroit’s decline.
(Photo Credit: Rick Harris/ CC BY-SA 2.0)
Graffiti covered the walls and ceiling, and there was major damage to structural elements. (Photo Credit: Rick Harris/ CC BY-SA 2.0)
(Photo Credit: Rick Harris/ CC BY-SA 2.0)
(Photo Credit: Rick Harris/ CC BY-SA 2.0)
(Photo Credit: Rick Harris/ CC BY-SA 2.0)
Just last week, Michigan Central Station held its completion ceremony and opening weekend, with live musical acts, and celebration.
The rebirth of the building was years in the making, as the huge building needed extensive historical preservation, repair, cleaning, and more.
And although Ford bought the building, they have set it up as a larger business campus, complete with mobility labs, public spaces, retail, and more.
Read more about the massive undertaking, and what’s next for Michigan Central Station here.
“Anchored by a vibrant and inclusive 30-acre campus, this growing community serves as a powerful convening place and real-world test bed to build the urban transportation solutions that advance a more sustainable, equitable future.
Featuring a state-of-the-art mobility hub, retail, multiple outdoor plazas, and 1.2 million square feet of commercial public space, Michigan Central aims to attract local and global visitors alike, spur economic development and jobs, and organize investment in new technologies.”
The post Once The Biggest Eyesore in the State, Detroit’s Michigan Central Station is Rebuilt and Reborn appeared first on Moss and Fog.