Residences emerge from the restoration of architectural jewel, the Book Tower.
Interior ceiling of the Book Tower in Detroit

A Roaring ’20s–era Detroit office building, Book Tower was in decline for almost half a century when it was acquired in 2015 by Detroit-based commercial real estate firm Bedrock. New York–based ODA was brought in for architecture and interior renovation, Brinker/Christman for construction, and Kraemer Design Group for historic preservation.

The team reinstalled 50,000 square feet of marble, replaced all 2,483 windows, and restored 29 exterior caryatids. Former office spaces were adapted into 45 unique floor plans for apartments and hotel rooms. Unveiled in June, the Book Tower offers 229 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, as well as an indoor-outdoor lounge with city views, a co-working space, a fitness center and a marble-arched atrium with a restored 2,200-square-foot art glass skylight.

“This is the most meaningful project you can hope for, a historical building where architecture and design can play a transformational role in both  its future, and also the future of Detroit.” Eran Chen, founder and executive director, ODA, New York

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