MGM Grand Detroit Casino to Be Redeveloped as Detroit Public Safety Headquarters

By Veronica Grecu, Associate Editor

During an official ceremony held last week at the former MGM Grand Detroit Casino building, Mayor Dave Bing and Police Chief Ralph Godbee broke ground on the new public safety headquarters for Detroit’s police and fire departments.

Built by Las Vegas-based MGM MIRAGE and local investment group Partners Detroit, the MGM Grand Detroit Casino at Third and Abbott Street opened in July 1999 as one of the city’s three casino resorts. The building also served as an Internal Revenue Service data center until 2010 when, according to The Detroit News, it was acquired by the City of Detroit for $6.3 million.

When completed, in July 2013, the new 465,000-square-foot headquarters will house the city’s Police, Fire and Homeland Security operations in a centralized structure that will result in increased efficiency and collaboration between agencies. In order to achieve that, local architecture firm the SmithGroupJJR designed an open-space work environment on the 6^th and 7^th floors, which will be occupied by the Police and Fire departments. The redevelopment plans also include shared conference rooms and training centers on the lower floors, as well as a 51,000-square-foot forensic laboratory for the Michigan State Police.

The $60 million redevelopment plan includes a complex makeover of the building’s exterior, which could be done by September, according to director of the Detroit Building Authority Beth DunCombe in an interview with Detroit Free Press. A Memorial Plaza designed to celebrate and honor past and present public safety officers will be built on the 1.5-acre surface parking next to the property.

The project team also includes White Turner JV which will manage construction at the site and management consultancy firm Hines Detroit Services.

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Photo credits Mike Russell (Wikipedia)