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The Z
State: Michigan Completed: 2014 Beginning as two empty surface lots on a single city block, surrounded by Library, Grand River, Broadway and Gratiot streets, the Z is a transformative mixed-use building that changes the energy of the historic Broadway district in Detroit. The design team was tasked with creating a building in an area of the city that desperately needed more parking to accommodate all of the young, vibrant talent returning to the city for work and entertainment. As a response to that need, the Z is a 10-level building containing a 1,282 car garage with 33,000 sf of grade-level retail, restaurant and office space facing Broadway and Library Streets. It is called “the Z” because the site is a Z-shape that straddles an alley surrounded by seven existing buildings. It is the culmination of a team that wanted to create a parking “experience,” atypical to the usual parking options in a major city. The Z-shaped structure is a white cement and aggregate precast concrete with a bold geometric “picture frame” design intended to reduce the scale of this 10-story structure. The precast façade utilizes repetitive formwork to create the faceted picture frame panels. Sheer walls to brace the walls for wind were strategically placed. The deck also features RGB LED lighting, custom graphics and artwork, and smart technologies. The deck spans a public alley with crossovers above level 3 to allow users to enter and exit onto two major arteries (Grand River and Gratiot Avenues) into and out of the City. Intended for Detroit’s economic resurgence, the 33,000 sf of retail space will be filled with boutique retailers and vibrant restaurants. The alley that supports the existing neighboring galleries, restaurants and future tenants will be a destination passage where there is art, vegetation, a place to sit or a secret spot to dine. Over its development, the project became more than a simple parking deck to adapt to the owner’s needs. The project team developed this building into a structure that represents the heart and soul of Detroit. The Library Street Gallery, located in one of the existing buildings adjacent to the Z, collaborated with the Owner to bring in 27 world-renowned street muralists to beautify the inside of the parking garage. The artists were asked to partake to create a “museum” within its walls. Bright, vibrant murals represent what Detroit means to each artist are splashed on each of the 10-floors of parking deck. The City of Detroit, the blue-collar worker and the birth of the Motor City inspire the murals. The interesting design elements of the exterior frames became the picture frames for the art inside. The experience is like driving through an art museum, discovering a little piece of Detroit on each floor. The Z has already become an iconic destination for art tours and out-of-towners. The two significant corners of the Z are very important to this project and are the “lanterns” of the block. They are the place markers and main wayfinding element that provide a constant light and sense of security. Each corner has elevators and stairs that are surrounded by glass, designed to give a feeling of safety and openness. An elevator ride also provides a breathtaking view of the city. Each landing has bright white LEDs and walls that are painted with each floor’s designated color. For example, Floor 1 is orange, Floor 2 is red, and so on. The signage for each floor is simple and clear to not compete with the artwork. When riding the elevator, the RGBLED lights inside will change colors when you reach the corresponding floor to alert riders they are on their level. The outer exterior corners of the building are lined with vertical RGB LED lights with an astounding 16 million possible color combinations to celebrate holidays and local events such as a Tiger’s victory in blue and orange. By utilizing highly recyclable concrete and energy-saving LED light fixtures, the project also places an emphasis on sustainability. The team was careful to include highly efficient lighting that can run 24/7 to provide a sense of security at night. Charging stations for electric cars were also included. To further reduce it’s carbon footprint, there are no carbon monoxide ventilation systems because the openings were carefully calculated to provided the appropriate ventilation. This structure adds to the density of the city to take a 200-space parking lot into 1282, therefore reducing the number of cars on the street. |
Project Comments:"You should be proud of your contribution as this project is the ICON of your strong commitment to meet and exceed owner expectation. Congratulations on a job well done." Malek Eljizi, Colasanti Construction Company Precast Products Used:
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