In the coming weeks, Bedrock in Detroit will begin to unveil the historic Book Tower along Washington Boulevard in the central business district, which has undergone a 7-year, $300 million-plus restoration.
Located at 1265 Washington Blvd., the 38-story tower and neighboring 14-story Book Building offers 500,000 square feet of space. New uses include 229 residential units, a 117-room ROOST Apartment Hotel, and 52,000 square feet of retail, office space, and three new dining options.
Book Tower, as the two adjoining buildings are now collectively known, will offer co-working, meeting, and event space, in addition to an activated alleyway between Grand River Avenue and State Street.
Book Tower also will offer a selection of dining, bar, and event experiences that will debut later this year, all operated by the hospitality firm, Method Co. The main level will include a new-to-market French restaurant, featuring breakfast, lunch, and dinner service, as well as a boulangerie.
A bar in The Rotunda on the main floor creates a scenic location for coffee and tea service in the morning, light bites throughout the day, and handcrafted cocktails in the evening, while the lower levels of Book Tower will host a Japanese restaurant and sake pub.
Additional experiences will be available at an indoor/outdoor rooftop bar atop the Book Building and within an 8,000 square foot, skylit event space for special occasions, meetings, and milestone celebrations.
On the west side of the Book Tower will be an activated alleyway featuring original artwork, foliage, and furnishings. The space may be reserved for private events and restaurant seating.
“Eight years ago, I said that Book Tower would be the most game changing and exciting redevelopment project in Detroit,” says Dan Gilbert, founder and chairman of Rocket Cos. “Today, we are thrilled as we prepare to re-open one of the most iconic and interesting buildings in the entire city.
“Detroiters have always recognized the importance and historic significance of Book Tower, and we are ready to honor that sentiment as we put into service and deliver the meticulously restored property back to the community.”
Built in 1926 by the three Book Brothers — Herbert, Frank, and J. Burgess Jr. — Book Tower was the tallest building in Detroit at the time of completion. Today, it remains one of the most architecturally renowned buildings in the Midwest and one of the most intriguing reuse projects in Michigan.
Following its 2015 acquisition of the Louis Kamper-designed, Italian Renaissance Revival style building, Bedrock embarked on a comprehensive, historic restoration of Book Tower. The building was originally found in a state of disrepair, after sitting vacant for more than a decade, including destroyed century-old plaster ceiling tiles, shattered marble wainscoting, and exposed electrical and plumbing systems.
To begin the renovation, Bedrock engaged ODA, a New York-based architecture firm, for architecture and interior renovation as well as Detroit-based Brinker/Christman on construction and Kraemer Design Group, also in Detroit, on historic preservation. Balancing the iconic character and charm of the Book while creating a contemporary, accessible, and unique destination was the leading strategy of Bedrock’s plan.
“When we acquired Book Tower, Bedrock took on more than just a dilapidated building — we inherited an iconic property that held a century of Detroit’s history and elegance,” says Kofi Bonner, CEO at Bedrock. “We understood the special place Book Tower holds in the hearts of Detroiters and we made sure our work was approached with the utmost thought, care, and intention. Book Tower will soon be reborn as a space for residents, visitors, and guests to gather and create new stories — once again building on its legacy as this city’s true architectural gem.”
After three years priming the structure for re-development, Bedrock and its partners:
- Recreated and hand painted more than 7,000 square feet of ornate ceiling tiles to match the original designs and color of the structure.
- Reinstalled 50,000 square feet of marble.
- Replaced all 2,483 windows with modern, historically accurate versions to increase energy efficiency.
- Restored 29 caryatids (statues) on the exterior of the building.
- Adapted former office spaces into 46 unique floor plans for apartments and hotel rooms.
- Refitted the rooftop event space with a 2,200 square foot skylight.
- Repaired the building’s original travertine floors.
- Revealed the classic, limestone façade for the first time in years.
With more than 7,000 individual glass jewels and 6,000 glass panels, Book Tower’s architectural centerpiece is the original 1920s art-glass skylight. The crown jewel illuminates The Rotunda, a newly unveiled three-story, marble-arched atrium off of Washington Boulevard that serves as the grand entryway for guests and residents.
Book Tower’s collection of 229 studio and one- and two-bedroom units offer 46 unique floor plans and amenities such as:
- The Terrace Club: an indoor/outdoor lounge with sweeping city views, the spacious terrace features a fireplace, a kitchenette, and seating on floor 14.
- The Rotunda: a marble arched atrium that greets guests with seating and an airy lobby bar beneath the skylight.
- The Study: a 3,000 square feet co-working space for residents and hotel guests, with views of Washington Boulevard and The Rotunda.
- Fitness Center: a 24/7 private exercise facility for residents and hotel guests, complete with state-of-the-art equipment.
- An entertaining suite for hosting events such as private dinner parties.
- 300-space parking garage, attached and covered for convenience.
The Residences incorporate oversized windows for natural light, quartz countertops, European white oak flooring, stainless-steel appliances, and in-suite washers and dryers.
Pre-leasing opportunities, including tours of The Residences, will be available in April. A portion of the units will be reserved as affordable housing for those making at or below 80 percent of the area median income.
Book Tower will house Detroit’s first ROOST Apartment Hotel, 117 luxury, extended-stay accommodations with boutique hotel features. Operated by Method Co. and set to open by early summer, ROOST Book Tower provides a stylish option for travelers with apartment dwellings which feature full-sized kitchens and modern appliances, plus the perks of a hotel and residential amenities.
Event inquiries, tour requests, and bookings are available at BookTowerDetroit.com.
Founded in 2011, Bedrock is a full-service real estate firm specializing in innovative city-building strategies. Bedrock and its affiliates have invested and committed more than $5.6 billion to acquiring and developing more than 100 properties in Detroit and Cleveland, including landmark developments such as the Hudson’s Site, the Book Tower restoration, City Modern, and the May Company Building.
Bedrock’s portfolio totals more than 19 million square feet of office, retail and residential space within new construction and adaptive reuse projects.
For more information on Bedrock’s projects, visit bedrockdetroit.com.
