Bedrock Selects ODA as Architect for Book Tower Rehabilitation in Detroit

DETROIT — Bedrock has selected ODA as the design architect for the Book Tower, an adaptive reuse project in Detroit. The project includes a mix of residential, hospitality, retail and office space. The 486,760-square-foot office tower was originally designed by Louis Kemper in 1916 in an Italian Renaissance style. Bedrock acquired the 38-story tower in 2015 and recently completed an extensive exterior restoration, including the replacement of 2,483 windows. ODA plans to add a variety of public amenities, including retail, galleries, restaurants and a café. The project team also includes construction manager Brinker/Christman, civil engineer Giffels Webster, structural engineer Buro Happold, as well as Kraemer Design Group for historic preservation and ARUP for acoustics and security. The building was named after the famous Book Brothers of Detroit. The last tenant, Bookie’s Tavern, closed in early 2009 leaving the entire building vacant.