The long-awaited reveal of Michigan Central Station's dramatic restoration to its pristine past is finally here.
Why it matters: Michigan Central's transformation from a battered reminder of Detroit's decline into a monument of civic pride is a historic achievement that eluded local leaders and developers for decades.
What they're saying: "We think about the station as a fairly massive signal to the world that Detroit's leading the way again. It's not just about the classic revitalization stories — we're past that," Michigan Central CEO Joshua Sirefman said.
- "We are actually now in a position of leadership."
Behind the scenes: Axios Detroit and other media outlets were invited to an advance tour inside the station May 14 under a confidentiality agreement that all reporting would be kept secret until Monday.
Catch up quick: The depot opened in 1913 and was designed by the same architects behind New York's Grand Central Terminal. During its 1940s peak, more than 4,000 passengers used it daily.
- As the automobile's rise made train travel less desirable, Michigan Central couldn't sustain itself and it closed in 1988.
- Ford bought Michigan Central in 2018 to become part of the automaker's new Corktown hub for transportation and electric vehicle innovation.
Driving the news: More than 3,100 workers over six years overcame severe water damage throughout the building to restore as many details as possible to their original condition, officials said during the tour.
- Three-D printing and other restoration techniques were used to recreate some of the building's artifacts.
By the numbers: The 640,000-square-foot station has 18 floors — three for the train depot and 15 for the office tower.
The restoration involved:
- 1.7 million combined work hours.
- 8.6 miles of grout for 29,000 Guastavino ceiling tiles in the grand hall.
- 3.5 million gallons of water pumped out of the basement.
- The overall cost has not been disclosed.
The intrigue: After Ford's purchase of the building, the original clock from the station's carriage house was mysteriously dropped off, wrapped in bubble wrap and blue tarp. People whose identities remain anonymous to Michigan Central dropped off the 750-pound clock after salvaging it decades earlier after the station closed.
- "When Ford acquired the building, somebody made contact anonymously and said, 'We have the carriage house clock and we'll leave it in a specific spot overnight and you all can come pick it up,'" Sirefman said. "It's one example of the love, honestly, that people showed for saving elements of the building."
What's next: A sold-out kickoff concert is 6pm Thursday outside the station, followed by a series of public tours, which are also at capacity.
- More tour dates will be announced soon.
- In the coming months and years, new tenants will fill the station. Restaurants, a hotel and various exhibits and events are planned, Sirefman said.
