Detroit News Parking Garage

In 1924, a parking garage at 801 West Lafayette Blvd. in Detroit, Michigan was built. It was one of two buildings built for the Detroit News, with the other being the home of the newspaper itself. When the building was purchased in 2014 by Bedrock Management, renovations began immediately, with the preservation of the historic design elements of the building being of utmost priority. In order to convert the parking garage from fully enclosed to sufficiently ventilated, a custom metal mesh solution was required.

The project architects, Albert Kahn and Associates, found that Banker Wire’s wire mesh and custom manufacturing capabilities were just what was needed. The parking garage had originally featured wired glass windows; therefore, Albert Kahn and Associates challenged Banker Wire to manufacture custom metal mesh panels that would not only mimic the original look of the building, but would also allow air and vehicle exhaust to pass through. Banker Wire manufactured panels of F-83 aluminum woven wire mesh and then sheared each panel in a “diamond” orientation to the exact sizes required for the job, thus mimicking the original glass design while simultaneously simplifying the installation.

F-83 architectural mesh was specified because it combines a mid-to-high percent open area with looks and performance that exude strength and durability. F-83 is a simple square wire mesh pattern that is woven as a flat top crimp style. The flat top tooling creates a weave that has two unique sides: a smooth side and a bumpy side. Designers can then choose the side that suits their design.

This 90+ year-old, 111,000 sq. foot building located in the heart of Detroit now serves as ideal parking for the future 615 Lafayette Detroit Media Partnership tenants.

Download Project Sheet