Finishing One Campus Martius.

15 years ago [[ish) The building originally known as the Compuware Headquarters, now One Campus Martius was declared complete. However the building is actually short of its original design. As Bedrock Detroit had announced the building is getting an addition which is really more of a completion.

According to the the buzz around downtown, when One Campus Martius was built the then owner had made a decision that they would not need all the space that the origin so the building which was originally intended to be a diamond shape, instead became a big W.

[[See https://youtu.be/r97Nv8N7-mI)

Though it has been some time since Bedrock Announced their intention, construction has begun during the summer, but now things are looking up. Literally.

Attachment 36746

The finished product is expected to look like this excess except for the over 900 foot tower that will be in front of it.

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.a...ering-01_i.jpg

What's not known at this time is what will be the fate of the artwork currently on the back of the building.

Here's a rendering from May of this year, from a Curbed article. It'll be cool to see multiple cranes in the air at once!

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Originally Posted by EGrant

It'll be cool to see multiple cranes in the air at once!

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Originally Posted by EGrant

Here's a rendering from May of this year, from a Curbed article. It'll be cool to see multiple cranes in the air at once!

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Don't forget the Monroe blocks, too. We could have a lot of cranes on the skyline soon!

Has anyone totaled up the office square footage and new apartment units across Hudson's, 1CM, and Monroe blocks to estimate the total number of new people who will be added downtown? There should clearly be an appreciable jump in foot traffic [[and viability for businesses) once all these projects are completed, but I'd be interested in the actual scale.

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Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

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I imagine these taste like chicken

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Originally Posted by EGrant

Here's a rendering from May of this year, from a Curbed article. It'll be cool to see multiple cranes in the air at once!

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I hope your rending comes to fruition instead of Bill's.

Thanks for the great post, Mr. Carver!

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Originally Posted by EGrant

Here's a rendering from May of this year, from a Curbed article. It'll be cool to see multiple cranes in the air at once!

Attachment 36747

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This is more like how it will look once the construction is complete. One note also. The one Campus Martius construction is being completed by the same company that originally was hired to build it. Walbridge.

To be clear, it wasn't ever really a rumor. It was always known the "bite" was left out for future expansion. Compuware might have even publicly said that. In any case, you could always see the steel supports sticking out from where the expansion would rise.

Anyway, FAA records show they got a permit for the tower crane last month, so this is imminent.

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Originally Posted by Dexlin

To be clear, it wasn't ever really a rumor. It was always known the "bite" was left out for future expansion. Compuware might have even publicly said that. In any case, you could always see the steel supports sticking out from where the expansion would rise.

Anyway, FAA records show they got a permit for the tower crane last month, so this is imminent.

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Yes there is lots of evidence that indeed the building was not finished to its original specification including the beams or the four elevator cars that were not in the building that are being installed now. The reason I didn’t say definitively that this is the case is that I don’t have a verified statement from anyone in authority not could I find Compuware saying anything about it. I believe what I have heard to be true but to put that on paper [[virtually) adds the additional responsibility to acknowledge that what I have written is a deduction that the building was unfinished based on the evidence you stated that I also have observed.

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Originally Posted by Bill Carver

Yes there is lots of evidence that indeed the building was not finished to its original specification including the beams or the four elevator cars that were not in the building that are being installed now. The reason I didn’t say definitively that this is the case is that I don’t have a verified statement from anyone in authority not could I find Compuware saying anything about it. I believe what I have heard to be true but to put that on paper [[virtually) adds the additional responsibility to acknowledge that what I have written is a deduction that the building was unfinished based on the evidence you stated that I also have observed.

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Good stuff. I do hope whatever the backside of one Campus Martius ends up looking like, that it contrasts enough with original structure to look like two separate buildings aesthetically. [[Or as much as can be done given the first two or three floors are already there).

Personal opinion, but never liked the mega block where one continuous building design ran the entire block. Doesn’t matter to me if the interior functions as one building, but think it makes the cityscape is more interesting with blocks having multiple different building exteriors.

I must admit that I’m curious as to whether the artwork at the back and the murals will be kept to any extent. Just personally, I really enjoyed them, I think they look great on the downtown landscape, especially at night, and many of my out-of-town friends have commented how cool they thought they are on the building. I personally would really hate to see them go.

They have already been removed in some spots in preparation of construction. I think they are toast, but I am sure Gilbert will have artists back to work on this site as well as Hudson's and Monroe.

I was under the impression that at least some of the art was going to exist as wall inside the new addition, but it may have just been a rumor I heard.

As Southen said, even if they are lost, you better believe Gilbert is going to be back commissioning art all around the Hudson and Monroe blocks. Maybe the Kaws statue was meant to make-up for the loss of the mural.

The artwork is on the back of the elevator shafts, so it is possible it may be kept, as they will remain as walls.

No more lame statues at the new Hudson's site, please. Too hard to explain the message behind the Kaws Statue to out of town family...

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Originally Posted by Warrenite84

No more lame statues at the new Hudson's site, please. Too hard to explain the message behind the Kaws Statue to out of town family...

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Could not agree more. I hated it when it was installed, and I still hate it now. It's not growing on me, nor do I ever feel like it will be an accepted piece of Detroit.

The possibility of an addition in the back was open and common knowledge at the time.

Also what was built was what was planned to be built and I don't have any recollection of any specific plans to build the addition or there being any expectation that it would be done in the immediate future. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

So this isn't a case of "unbuilt Detroit", it's just that they had the foresight at the time to understand that in the future the office market might improve and that the location would be more valuable.

BTW, here is the FAA's obstruction evaluation for the crane for this project:

https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external...68556194&row=9

It appears it was approved on September 21st, and can stand until March 21, 2020. The crane is coming from JJ Curan Crane Company, which most recently supplied the tower crane for The Boulevard at Third & Grand in New Center.

Folks! Steel beams are rising! This project is moving quickly!

Attachment 36925

What a difference a few weeks make! Check this out!

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18 days later and WOW!

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More great pix for 48307! Thanks.

I don't know you guys. something's fishy about this. that looks like fake steel. this is a page out of the Ilitch handbook they use plastic instead of steel. I also see possible photoshop? I'll believe it when I see it.

I think this project is moving too fast for there to be a chance of the tower crane remaining up when the Hudson or Monroe cranes are in the air. Multiple tower cranes! What a time!

18 days later and another WOW! Major, huge progress!

Previous picture: Steel done completly up to bottom of 5th floor
Current picture: Steel done completely up to bottom of 7th floor

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does anybody know what firm designed this addition?

Downtown-based Rossetti, the same architects of the original part of the tower.

9 days later and HUGE progress, yet again.

Previous picture: Steel done completely up to bottom of 7th floor
Current picture: Steel done completely up to bottom of 9th floor, partially done for 10th floor

Also of note: I can no longer look down into the construction area from the top of the One Campus Martius parking garage, it's gone too high.

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Amazes me how they managed to get that much done in a little around two months.

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Originally Posted by mtburb

Amazes me how they managed to get that much done in a little around two months.

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Good weather and a full crew of ironworkers.

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Originally Posted by mtburb

Amazes me how they managed to get that much done in a little around two months.

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I was walking around downtown between 1 am and 2 am last week and I saw construction workers working on that steel structure.

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Originally Posted by masterblaster

I was walking around downtown between 1 am and 2 am last week and I saw construction workers working on that steel structure.

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Yeah I saw that crane cranking at around 11pm so I wonder if they are doing the majority of the work while OCM is empty

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Originally Posted by JonWylie

Yeah I saw that crane cranking at around 11pm so I wonder if they are doing the majority of the work while OCM is empty

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They are. Almost all the steel has gone up during the overnight hours.

14 days later...

Previous picture: Steel done completely up to bottom of 9th floor, partially done for 10th floor
Current picture: Steel done complete up to bottom of 10th floor, partially done for 11th floor

I can't get as good of a picture because of snow that prevent me and my fear of heights from getting near the edge of the parking structure...

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After reading this Freep article, I made sure to photograph the murals before they got too covered up:
https://www.freep.com/story/entertai...gs/1998563002/

best of luck, hopefully more companies to move downtown.

More news: I've been told that part of this project is to add two new elevator shafts to the building. Originally the building had 20 elevator shafts but only 16 elevators. Recently the four empty elevator shafts were filled. However, it appears that some of the work being done currently will add two more additional elevator shafts to bring the building to a total of 22 elevator shafts.

In the underground parking area of the building materials can be seen for the new elevators.


Here is a picture from yesterday, 12 days after the last picture...

Previous picture: Steel done complete up to bottom of 10th floor, partially done for 11th floor
Current Picture: Steel done complete up to the bottom of the 11th floor. Some signs of steel soon to rise to the 12th floor

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Originally Posted by 48307

More news: I've been told that part of this project is to add two new elevator shafts to the building. Originally the building had 20 elevator shafts but only 16 elevators. Recently the four empty elevator shafts were filled. However, it appears that some of the work being done currently will add two more additional elevator shafts to bring the building to a total of 22 elevator shafts.

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Why would a small building like this need that many elevators? Geez people, use the stairs if you have to wait more than a minute.

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Originally Posted by 401don

Why would a small building like this need that many elevators? Geez people, use the stairs if you have to wait more than a minute.

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Elevator wait times during rush hour were getting really long. We figure this is because one of the main tenants of the building like to pack people into the building rather densely, probably more so than Compuware did.

With the elevator wait times being long and more space being added to the building, it makes sense to add more elevators. They are also converting the elevators over to a smart system where you select a floor outside of the elevator and then are assigned an elevator based on your selection.

OCM might not be the tallest building, but it has a very wide footprint and an open floorplan, which makes it a pretty dense building.

I don't think people realize just how big this building is. Depending on how you measure it, when this this expansion is completely, it will barely beat out Cadillac Place as the largest single-structure office building in town at around 1.4 million square feet.

BTW, elevators aren't just for passengers. I wonder how many of these new elevators will be freight elevators to service the new expansion? I know that each of the RenCen's four main office towers have one freight elevator and 12 passenger elevators [[6 servicing the lower half, and 6 the upper half).

Speaking of elevators, we just watched a temporary construction elevator arrive on site. It's rather... pink!

I found an image of one constructed, so I imagine it will look like this: https://mhpmag.com/wp-content/upload...k-Elevator.jpg

OK, so I've been one floor off of all my previous reports of progress. As a result, I'll summarize with the correct floor counts and dates here:

2018-11-13: Steel starts to rise for the first time
2018-12-03: Steel partially complete up to 5th and 6th floors
2018-12-21: Steel complete up to 6th floor, partial up to 8th
2019-01-08: Steel complete up to 8th floor, partial up to 10th
2019-01-17: Steel complete up to 10th floor, partial up to 11th
2019-01-30: Steel complete up to 11th floor, partial up to 12th
2019-02-12: Steel complete up to 12th floor, partial up to 14th [[13th*)
2019-02-12: Construction elevator delivered in pieces to site
2019-02-25: Steel complete up to 12th floor, partial up to 15th [[14th*)

*In this building floors 13 and 14 are labeled as 14 and 15. There is also a penthouse level above those floors that is only accessible via stairs.

Here is the latest picture:

Attachment 37648

Many skyscrapers don't have a [[labeled) 13th floor, supposedly due to superstition. The numbering just skips from 12 to 14.

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Originally Posted by EGrant

Many skyscrapers don't have a [[labeled) 13th floor, supposedly due to superstition. The numbering just skips from 12 to 14.

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Looks almost topped off, as far as the structural elements go. Anybody know when the ceremonial final steel piece with tree will be raised?

I drove by earlier and it looked like 2 floors until its topped off. Shouldn't be too much longer. This thing really went up fast.

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Originally Posted by NSortzi

I drove by earlier and it looked like 2 floors until its topped off. Shouldn't be too much longer. This thing really went up fast.

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Probably helps with all the foundation work done many years ago... :)

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Originally Posted by Gistok

Probably helps with all the foundation work done many years ago... :)

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Indeed, this is what people looking at the Hudson's site should keep in mind. Once steel starts going up, it goes fast!

Window installation 3-13-19

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I am willing to bet the windows will be completed before Little Caesars.

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Originally Posted by gumby

I am willing to bet the windows will be completed before Little Caesars.

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NO JOKE! I bet you're right.

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Originally Posted by gumby

I am willing to bet the windows will be completed before Little Caesars.

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They're stalling on the windows so they can say construction of The District Detroit is "ongoing".

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Originally Posted by gumby

I am willing to bet the windows will be completed before Little Caesars.

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That's a given. I'm willing to bet the windows will be installed on the Hudson Tower before the Pizza HQ is done.

Windows are going up! The 5th floor is mostly done and the 6th floor is about half done.

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Nice to see Detroit moving forward on a few things

The windows are flying up REALLY fast!

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Very nice. Anyone in the know know who the glass supplier for this project is? Also, who's the general contractor on this one? Is it Barton Malow like at the Hudson site?

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Here's an image from a different angle

They put the Christmas tree and flag on top of the steel yesterday. Moving along!

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Originally Posted by Dexlin

Very nice. Anyone in the know know who the glass supplier for this project is? Also, who's the general contractor on this one? Is it Barton Malow like at the Hudson site?

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Walbridge is the GC.

Progress pics taken today. Apologies for the garbage quality.

First pic from People Mover.
Second pic from Greektown.
https://i.imgur.com/s0msLoQ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/PIVLwXK.jpg

From just now:

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Fixed the images for you.... :)

^thanks a lot.

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Windows are starting to go up on the 11th floor.

The tower crane is gone [[sorry if this is old news, I've been out of town), and they appear to be done with the windows, except for the part of the building where the elevator is attached to.

Would be very nice if someone could post a picture of what this building looks like now.

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Originally Posted by bigboat

Would be very nice if someone could post a picture of what this building looks like now.

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Really nothing to see. Windows go to the top now.

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Originally Posted by bigboat

Would be very nice if someone could post a picture of what this building looks like now.

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Here you go! This one is from today.

Attachment 38408

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Originally Posted by 48307

Here you go! This one is from today.

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Does anybody know if they are going to alter the street level and bottom 2 or 3 floors existing from the old structure? Their renderings showed the new glass panels would go all the way down to street level and that it seemed like they were going to try to incorporate some sort of retail aspect on the back of the building. Now i understand if it's not possible given the need for loading docks for the building, I just don't understand why they would render it like that?

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Originally Posted by SpartanDawg

Does anybody know if they are going to alter the street level and bottom 2 or 3 floors existing from the old structure? Their renderings showed the new glass panels would go all the way down to street level and that it seemed like they were going to try to incorporate some sort of retail aspect on the back of the building. Now i understand if it's not possible given the need for loading docks for the building, I just don't understand why they would render it like that?

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Not sure what renderings you’re referrin too, all the renderings I’ve seen show the lower floors how they are now.

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Originally Posted by NSortzi

Not sure what renderings you’re referrin too, all the renderings I’ve seen show the lower floors how they are now.

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This one:

Attachment 38412

EGrant, another difference I see is that your rendering shows no glass for the mechanical floors [[16 and 17) of OCM. However, in reality they've already started to put some glass there.

I would be really surprised if they put retail on Farmer and Gratiot, as the loading docks are probably needed on Gratiot, and I believe it's all mechanical on the Farmer side near Gratiot.

Total speculation: perhaps in the future when the Hudson loading docks are complete they'll connect to OCM underneath Gratiot? There is a freight elevator in the building near Woodward and Gratiot, I'm not sure how deep it goes.

I took a look today; the glass they are installing on the mechanical floors appears to be the windows circled. They are under the overhang and on some kind of balcony.

Attachment 38416

I could be wrong though, just an observation.

I gotta say this side of the building looks so much better now that it conforms to the street. It was such an awkward gap before.