Historical Building Repair Restoration Contractors Michigan

CASS using Six Man Lifts at Job Site (two 135 ft man lifts – a 150 ft man lift – a 125 ft man lift – a 68 ft man lift – a 80 ft man lift

Historical Building Renovation – GAR Office Building – Grand Army of the Republic – Detroit, MI
Roof Restoration by CASS Sheetmetal Specialists

G.A.R. Building Project Details:

The G.A.R. Building is significant to Detroit and Michigan for being in historical and architectural terms the pre-eminent G.A.R. hall building in the entire state of Michigan. Built in 1897 to 1900, the building is a notable example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture in Detroit, and is a very important work of its architect, Julius Hess, who designed a large number of imposing churches in Detroit in the late nineteenth century. It is by far the largest G.A.R. hall ever constructed in Michigan. The Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) was founded in 1866 as a society for men who fought for the North in the Civil War. Detroit and Michigan veterans groups lobbied the City of Detroit to erect them a memorial meeting building in 1891. The building was erected at a cost of $44,000 with $38,00 coming from the sale of city bonds. From the time of its opening, the G.A.R. Building was utilized as a gathering place for parties, dances, weekly or monthly meetings, and celebrations of national holidays by various veterans groups. The Detroit Parks and Recreation Department took over the building in 1943 for use as a recreation center. The structure was sold during the 1980s to private developers to be rehabilitated for private office space.

G.A.R Building Today:

The G.A.R. Building was purchased by Mindfield in November 2011 from the City of Detroit.  It was their 3rd attempt to purchase the building from the City of Detroit.  Mindfield is a mult-media creative company and they intend to occupy the 4th floor and mezzanine levels of the G.A.R. Building for their own offices.  Mindfield currently has their offices in the historic Library Lofts building.  The owners of Mindfield will also be operating the restaurants and bars on the ground floor of the G.A.R. Building.  The larger space will be called the “Republic” and be a restaurant and bar.  The smaller space on the south side of the building will be the “Parks and Rec Diner”.  The 2nd and 3rd floor spaces are to be lease spaces and Mindfield is looking for other established creative companies in their related field.

Phase 1 of the project, the restoration of the building envelope, has been completed by Integrity Building Group, LLC.  The masonry was cleaned and restored by Akins Construction, the new roof and metal work including the impressive copper gutters was completed by Custom Architectural Sheetmetal Specialists, Inc., and .the windows were restored by the carpenters of Integrity Building Group, LLC.  In November 2012 the American flag was raised again above the G.A.R. Building on the south turret.  A phase 1.5 for the installation of the storefront on the 1st Floor is scheduled to be completed in spring 2013.

The remainder of the interior work is to begin in the spring 2013 and will be completed by early 2014.

You can track the progress of the G.A.R. Building by checking into these websites:

http://www.studiozonedetroit.com/gar-building/

https://www.facebook.com/IBGDetroit

https://twitter.com/GARDetroit

Can One Company Offer So Much?  Our Clients Think So!
CASS Sheetmetal Specialists – Detroit, MI  (313) 571-2277

Project Consulting, Design/Build, Installation, Custom Fabrication, Standing Seam Copper Domes & Caps, New Construction Standing Seam Metal Roofing, Foam Wall & Stainless Steel Siding Panels, ZInc Siding, Slate & Tiles, Custom Bay Window & Prefab Canopies, Metal Fascias, Soffits & Mansards, Residential Metal Roofing Systems, Historic Building Roof Restoration and More!

Historical Building Repair Restoration Contractors Michigan