$145 MILLION RENOVATION OF HISTORIC ARGONAUT BUILDING NEARS COMPLETION

DETROIT — A $145 million redevelopment of Detroit’s historic Argonaut Building is nearing completion. The 760,000-square-foot facility was donated by General Motors to the College for Creative Studies (CCS). The college will use the updated facility as a second campus site. Additionally, the project calls for the reorganization of the college’s existing campus in Midtown Detroit’s Cultural Center. Beginning this fall, the Argonaut Building will house undergraduate and graduate programs in design; community outreach activities; student housing; research and professional activities in the design fields; and a charter middle school and high school with a special focus on art and design. CCS programs and departments will occupy approximately 70 percent of the building, which was originally constructed by General Motors for its first research facility. The new campus will house all of CCS’ design-based majors, including transportation design, product design, interior design, graphic design and advertising design. Highlights of the renovation include the addition of a 300-bed student housing area, a conference center with a 400-seat auditorium and a 360-seat dining hall. The project began in May, and is being led by project architect Albert Kahn Associated. Eric Larson of Larson Realty Group is leading the development team, which includes Jones Lang LaSalle and Preservation Development. CCS is a private, fully accredited college that enrolls more than 1,300 students.