Michigan Central Station Reopens After Ford Renovations

After undergoing a massive rehabilitation project for more than six years, Michigan Central Station is finally opening to the public, allowing the citizens of Detroit to see work Ford has done on the interior restoration of its historic main floor. An event called Michigan Central OPEN, taking place from June 6–16, will officially mark the historic reopening and welcome the community back.

Ford’s acquisition of the abandoned Michigan Central station in 2018 came as a part of its project to open a 30-acre technology and cultural hub in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood. This campus is intended to connect Ford employees with outside partners, entrepreneurs, students, and even rivals in the industry. Here, Ford will work to develop innovative products, services, and technology to better serve the needs of a new Ford customer generation and to make the world a better place. 

Ford’s work to repair and restore the historic station is one of many indications of the company’s dedication to the heritage and local community of Detroit, Michigan. “Michigan Central means a great deal to us all. In many ways, this building tells the story of our city,” said Bill Ford, executive chair of Ford. “This Station was our Ellis Island – a place where dreamers in search of new jobs and new opportunities first set foot in Detroit. But once the last train pulled out, it became a place where hope left. In 2018, I decided it was time to change that by reimagining this station as a place of possibility again. Over the past six years, Ford Motor Company and teams of forward thinkers, designers, community leaders, and more than 3,000 skilled tradespeople have worked to bring this landmark back to life.”

The magnificent Beaux-Arts structure has been undergoing extensive renovations over the past six years in an effort to bring back to life its classical façade and elaborate interiors, which include the Grand Hall, which features a 54-foot Guastavino tile vaulted ceiling, as well as the arcade, ticket lobby, and restaurant. From the start of the project in 2018, more than 1.7 million hours of work have been invested.

“I wanted Michigan Central to be beautifully restored but also reimagined for so much more,” Bill Ford said. “This will be a place for the community to enjoy and a destination for visitors from all over. We will have restaurants, music, art, and great retail. And the innovation that will happen here, with startups and companies big and small, will help ensure Detroit preserves its title as the Motor City for generations to come.”

“Thanks to the thousands of people who contributed to this project, one of the city’s most treasured landmarks has been brought back to life, while creating a space that will take us into the future,” said Joshua Sirefman, CEO of Michigan Central. “Michigan Central will advance mobility solutions that help solve some of society’s biggest challenges. It will also be a powerful catalyst for growth and an economic engine for this region.”

To welcome the community back into the space, Ford and Michigan Central are hosting Michigan Central OPEN from June 6–16. Attendees will be able to enjoy musical performances, interactive open-house experiences, and even an art program showcasing a new version of Reddymade’s me + you, the critically renowned interactive sculpture, created specifically for the renovated station.