Projects > G.A.R. Building

The Detroit Grand Army of the Republic Building, the G.A.R. Building, is Integrity Building Group's latest project.  We couldn't be more excited to work on a one-of-a-kind building, unlike any other in the world, for a fabulous client, the incredibly creative trio of Tom Carleton, David Carleton and Sean Emery of Mindfield Pictures.

The  G.A.R. Building is a Richardsonian Romanesque style building rarely found in Detroit's historic building inventory.  Located at the corner of Grand River and Cass Avenue, the existing building is a triangular shaped building, with a limestone and sandstone exterior facade, with two crenelated turrets at two corners of the building. 

The structure was built in 1899 to house the social functions for the civil war veterans society, the Grand Army of the Republic.  It was later passed on to the Sons and Daughters of the Civil War and finally to the City of Detroit for its use as a Recreation Center. 

The building has been vacant and abandoned for the past twenty years.  During this time the building has suffered extensive damage including structural damage at all the floors in the turrets.  The plaster has be damaged throughout the building and the roof is way past it serviceability.  There is no power, heating or cooling or plumbing systems of any nature left in the building.

The challenge with the G.A.R. Building is to keep the historic character and beauty of the original structure while introducing all the modern building requirements including new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.

The building is on the National Historic Registry for Historic Structures which presents its own unique challenges.  The building’s restoration will require compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Rehabilitation.

Brian Mooney
President
[p] 248-798-7127
[e] bmooney@ware-house.com

John P. Biggar
[p] 313 549 2790
[e] jpb@ware-house.com