The massive-scale redesign of Detroit's Cobo
Center serves as a fitting symbol for the renaissance of
the city's downtown core. Halfway completed, the six-year,
$279-million expansion project will modernize the entire
existing facility and turn the adjacent Cobo Arena into a
38,000-square-foot ballroom with several underground meeting
rooms. Phase II of the renovations, completed at the end of
last year, added 22,500 square feet of exhibition space to the
main hall.
Detroit Metropolitan Airport is rebuilding one of its runways
and making general infrastructure improvements with the goal of
reducing carbon emissions. The $15-million project is expected
to create jobs and improve airport safety. In addition, free
Wi-Fi service in the airport's terminals will begin this fall.
"These substantial federal grants for Detroit Metro will create
jobs and significantly improve the safety and infrastructure at
Michigan's largest airport," says U.S. Senator Carl Levin, who
is a champion of the project.
A taxiway and runway will be reconstructed with a grant of
nearly $13.2 million from the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA). The second grant, also from the FAA, will be used to
fine-tune the central power system for the entire airport and
install low-emission natural gas boilers.
Michigan's first Aloft hotel is expected to open in the
historic David Whitney building on Woodward Avenue in Detroit
in July, 2014 after an $82 million gut renovation. The
building, designed by famed Chicago architect Daniel Burnham
and erected in 1915, has been empty for several years. The new
hotel will have 136 guest rooms and substantial meeting and
event space.
Detroit's Pontchartrain Hotel, which closed in 2009 and has
been held in receivership since, was sold to Mexican hotel
developer Gabriel Ruiz in April. The 413-room hotel could be
redeveloped as a Crowne Plaza property and reopen as early as
2013.
Last month, the Livonia Michigan Hotel was rebranded as the
Fairfield Inn & Suites Detroit Livonia after a large-scale
renovation of its business center, 640 square feet of meeting
and event space, and a fitness center. The hotel added 10
executive king suites each offer a separate bedroom area and
sofa bed, two 32" flat-panel TVs, refrigerator, and microwave.
The bathrooms feature granite countertops and new mirrors and
lighting.
In June, the Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo opened a
new 250-room tower, bringing the property up to a total of 415
rooms. There will also be a new multi-use event center, called
the Silver Creek Event Center, and a new Hard Rock Caf�
restaurant.
Last February, the Amway Grand Plaza hotel in Grand Rapids
completed a high-tech renovation of its largest meeting space,
the 8,750-square-foot Ambassador Ballroom. The $2.4 million
facelift included the addition of color-changing LED lighting,
state-of-the-art control systems, and additional A/V connection
points for maximum setup flexibility. SM