6001 CASS

HOME TO A NEW INDUSTRY

In 2018, The Platform acquired 6001 Cass, an iconic Albert Kahn building originally designed as Cadillac’s 1920 flagship showroom. With the help of Farr Associates, The Platform sought to convert this historic building to meet the growing demand for tech-related office space in Detroit’s New Center neighborhood.

When complete, the first floor of the building will feature local retailers, restaurants, and art galleries, while floors 3 through 6 will feature Class-A flexible office space. The heart of the building is the historic double-height second story showroom space, featuring beautiful original vaulted plaster ceilings, wood moulding, and tile detailing. This space, when restored, will become a new community catalyst, worthy of hosting meetings, parties, and industry events. The building is currently seeking National Landmark status from the National Park Service.

Through integrated design thinking, the final renovation design features an aggressive envelope retrofit including highly-insulated exterior walls and roofs, as well as installation of high-performance historically-sensitive replacement windows. The building’s mechanical system features Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) technology. By operating at varying speeds, VRF units work only when needed while utilizing heat recovery to substantially lower the system’s overall energy demand.  Compared to a conventional forced-air system, the cost-neutral system resulted in a 10% increase in leasable area coupled with a 40% reduction in energy use. With this renewed level of performance, 6001 Cass is prepared to once again be the home for new industry in Detroit.

Client: The Platform

Location: Detroit, MI

Year: 2020