Location: Corktown - Detroit Concrete Contractor: Albanelli Cement Contractors Concrete Supplier: Superior Materials Prime Contractor: WCI Contractors Design Engineer: OHM Advisors Project Owner: City of Detroit General Services Department
Detroit's historic Roosevelt Park, located on Michigan Avenue in the shadow of the old Michigan Central train station building, underwent a remarkable $6 million transformation, including reimagined landscaping, new public amenities, and an expanded footprint from 7.5 acres to 13 acres. In addition, the removal of Vernor Road, which bisected the park, contributes to a safer and more community-friendly public space.
The transformed park serves as an amenity not only for neighborhood residents but also for the many new workers who will be employed within the Michigan Central campus. Roosevelt Park now includes a promenade connecting Michigan Avenue to The Station, a new pedestrian gateway entrance at Michigan Avenue, key neighborhood entryways and walkways, plaza spaces, event lawns, benches, tables, and landscaping.
Albanelli worked with the design team to alter the original plan for a precast seat wall at the entrance of the park and instead, the seat wall was cast in place with the banner insignia “Roosevelt Park” embossed into the concrete. Albanelli also recommended changing the proposed method of creating the exposed aggregate effect from sandblasting to utilizing a spray-on topcoat to create the exposed aggregate effect. Both changes resulted in considerable project cost savings, but the result is a beautiful enhancement that spruces up the park and makes it shine!
