McIntosh Poris Architects designed a tenant improvement and addition to the 43-story One Detroit Center tower on Woodward and Congress in downtown Detroit. The ground floor restaurant covers nearly 5,500-square-feet and features multiple experiences: a U-shaped bar, a new steel-and-glass atrium structure with operable roof and walls, and a traditional outdoor patio dining area enclosed by verdant planters. Interior spaces feature luxurious textures, including distressed leathers and rich woods, along with playful wall graphics for a distinctive environment. The interiors, as well as server uniforms, reflect a color palette of black, red, and white for a cohesive brand identity.
3,660-square-feet of ground floor interior space is decked out in a mixture of wood tables and chairs and well as comfortable upholstered couches and barstools. New French doors replace former stone walls to open up the view to the street and access to outdoor seating. The U-shaped bar area overlooks the “whiskey wall” and an open kitchen. A mural declaring "This town ain't for weenies!" acts as a backdrop to the sushi bar.
Formerly a bank tenant space, the base of the building has been transformed from a fortress to be permeable to the street. The formerly empty plaza on the north side of the building is now a destination for al fresco dining. The restaurant’s highlight is an 1,800-square-foot indoor/outdoor greenhouse-like, glass-enclosed structure with operable roof and walls to house an all-season dining space and bar with indoor-style furnishings and finishes, and lush greenery.
View Original