The newly restored Book-Cadillac and Fort Shelby hotels may not be
spitting images of their former selves, but they are close, with
architects mixing in their historic looks with a twist of modernism.
Excerpt:
"The goal is to attempt to maintain the historic essence of
the building," said Robbert McKay, the state's historical architect who
approves the historic tax credits. The Book Cadillac is in line to
receive $37.5 million in historic credits, while the Fort Shelby will
get $8 million, according to McKay, who worked with the developers of
both projects. "When you start with buildings reduced to shells of
their former selves, there has to be flexibility," he said.
At
the Fort Shelby, developers took painstaking steps to restore the
elaborate Crystal Ballroom and maintain the marble floor of the lobby,
among other things. But other portions of the original marble floors
have been carpeted over and what is believed to have been a Pewabic
tile water fountain has been walled in. The Book, with its once grand
marble staircase and ornate ballrooms, now has the beige, modern sheen
of a Westin. But that includes, among other things, handmade
chandeliers from Italy and re-creations of ornate tiles and ceiling
patterns.
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