The CAM podcast delves into the challenging and monumental Michigan Central Station renovation project, discussing safety, teamwork and cultural significance. Costing $940 million and involving 3,100 workers, the restoration highlights the artistry and dedication of Michigan's skilled trades workers, preserving a piece of Detroit's history.
Construction Association of Michigan photo
(L-R): Austin Giesey, The Christman Group; Kevin Koehler, CAM; Tim Andrews, CAM; Larry Brinker Jr., The Brinker Group; and Ron Staley, The Christman Company.
In February, the Construction Association of Michigan (CAM) announced the Michigan Central Station renovation as CAM Magazine's 2024 Project of the Year. In one of its most compelling episodes to date, CAM's latest Building Michigan podcast takes listeners behind the scenes of this monumental renovation project.
Podcast host and CAM President Kevin Koehler sat down with Larry Brinker Jr., CEO of The Brinker Group; Ron Staley, founder of Christman's Historic Preservation Group; and Austin Giesey, senior project manager of The Christman Group, to discuss safety challenges, the invaluable teamwork of Michigan's skilled trades workers and what the Michigan Central Station restoration means for the future of Detroit. Their collective expertise and dedication helped transform the dilapidated train station into a beacon of Detroit's renaissance.
The renovation of Michigan Central Station was a hulking undertaking, a five-year project that cost $940 million and required 1.7 million man-hours from more than 3,100 workers. Before construction began, the building was in severe disrepair after being abandoned since its closure in the 1980s.
The team faced immense logistical hurdles, starting even before public knowledge of Ford's acquisition. The station sits below the level of the Detroit River, Staley said, so the basement had been leaking "probably since day one." There was so much water in the building, Brinker added, that it sounded like a river was running through the basement. In addition to extensive flooding, there were many safety concerns that needed to be addressed, including eight elevator shafts with no doors and more than 1,000 holes in the tower floor. The team talked about a partnership with MIOSHA that was crucial to keeping thousands of workers safe on the job.
Beyond the logistical challenges, this restoration highlights the artistry and dedication of Michigan's skilled trades workers. The discovery of original building plans proved invaluable. This allowed for the meticulous recreation of elements like the original light fixtures, a two-and-a-half-year process.
"It just goes back to the point of construction," Brinker said. "We are artisans, we are creators, we are doing things that no one else can do."
The project team reflects on the cultural significance of the renovation.
"The station was often regarded by national television as a ‘symbol of our [Detroit's] demise'," Brinker said.
About a decade or so ago, the train station came very close to being demolished. Now, the restoration has become the heart of Detroit's Innovation District, standing as a testament to the city's resilience and resurgence.
There is a certain sentimentality to the renovation as well.
"Saving the building saves over a century of legacy of family stories because the building has touched so many people," Staley said.
The team even recounts the story of "Catfish," an individual who lived in the abandoned train station from 1996-2000, as evidenced by his dated graffiti tags and makeshift mattresses scattered throughout the building. It just goes to show, Giesey said, that people from all walks of life have their own deep connections to the building.
Listen to this episode of Building Michigan at spreaker.com/episode/michigan-central-station-cam-magazine-s-2024-project-of-the-year--66294396.
A full feature article on the Michigan Central Station renovation, which appeared in the October 2024 Project Achievement Awards issue of CAM Magazine, can be viewed at buildwithcam.com/cam- magazine.
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