Schmidt Hammer Lassen’s first U.S. project breaks ground in Detroit

The northeast corner of Detroit’s Campus Martius Park will be home to Monroe Blocks, Schmidt hammer Lassen Architect’s first U.S. project. The project will span a 134,548-sf site across two city blocks and include the first high-rise office tower built in downtown Detroit in more than 25 years.

Monroe Blocks will include a mix of modern office space, residential units, restaurants, retail, and approximately 51,660 sf of public outdoor space. Schmidt Hammer Lassen will work with Neumann/Smith Architecture to reintroduce historic alleyways and public access points and prioritize the public realm by connecting the outdoors with each structure’s ground floor.

Monroe Block retail space Courtesy Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects.

The development is being built in an area that was known as Detroit’s first theater district. The National Theatre, the sole remaining building from this original theater district, will have its ornate terracotta archway incorporated into the Monroe Blocks design. It will be disassembled, catalogued, and relocated to a new pedestrian walkway that will bisect the new development.

Monroe Block interior office floor Courtesy Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects.

A groundbreaking event recently took place on Monroe Banks Plot A, which will include a 35-storey glass and terracotta office tower, a 17-story, 148-unit residential building, and a total of 66,000 sf of retail space.

Monroe Blocks is scheduled to complete in early 2022.

Monroe Blocks aerial view Courtesy Hayes Davidson.

Monroe Blocks courtyard Courtesy Hayes Davidson.

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