Built in 1924, the Eddystone Hotel sat mostly vacant for decades just north of what is now Little Caesars Arena. Today it's 110 Sproat: 92 apartments above ground-floor retail in the heart of District Detroit.
The owner wanted to keep as much of the existing building as possible while replacing nearly every system inside it. The old hotel had never been air-conditioned, and its floors were divided into small compartments with few clear paths for ductwork, piping, or power. PBA routed most services vertically and spread electrical equipment across alternating floors, with meter stacks on one level, IT closets on the next, and power distribution on another, to keep the new systems compact.
The roof looks out over the arena and the neighborhood around it. Working with the architect and structural engineer, PBA selected low-profile rooftop equipment that keeps those views open and protects the building's historic profile. After dark, small adjustable LED floodlights and linear grazers bring out the detail in the facade. The fixtures sit in niches and along ledges and balconies, out of sight from the street.
The lobby's original ceiling height had to stay. To meet the requirements of the Detroit Historic District Commission and leave room for retail tenants, PBA worked with the architect, structural engineer, and millwork team, using Revit coordination to place ductwork, piping, and equipment where visitors would never notice them.
Residents get modern apartments. The building keeps the face it has worn for a century.
