The War Memorial Shares Refreshed Design Based on Community Feedback for New Facility Addition
Following the initial site plan approval from the Grosse Pointe Farms City Council in early 2020, as well as a thorough community engagement process, The Grosse Pointe War Memorial Association today shared updated design renderings for its planned facility improvement project. Working with ROSSETTI, a Detroit-based architectural firm, The War Memorial aggregated feedback from community members, stakeholders, and City Council, producing an enhanced design to best realize the desired improvements and contribute to the safety and elevation of its patron experience. The public is invited to view the new renderings in detail at www.warmemorial.org/future.
While the refreshed renderings appear enhanced and upgraded, they share a layout and operational commonality to the approved plans. The design reflects input acquired by The War Memorial through patron surveys, meetings with neighbors and stakeholders, and ideas voiced at a Grosse Pointe Farms City Council public work session in late January 2020.
Feedback found the following architectural and design elements were of utmost importance to patrons and community members, while maintaining the integrity of the planned addition:
Ensuring a visually harmonious and complementary design between the historic 1910 Alger house and new construction
A commitment to maintaining the site as a memorial for personal reflection and patriotism
An energy efficient design, achieved by the use of quality and lasting construction materials
An environmentally friendly process to ensure the protection and conservation of the shoreline and wildlife
“From the beginning of this endeavor, the input received from community members, stakeholders, and our valued patrons has been of paramount importance,” said Charles Burke, War Memorial president and CEO. “Our aim is to design, build, and provide programming in a space that will truly benefit our community’s vast and varied interests and needs. We feel that, through our rigorous engagement process, we were able to truly hear our constituency, and to incorporate their desires into the project. To all who provided feedback and suggestions, we offer our heartfelt thanks.”
Given the current climate, the new plans have been significantly influenced by the COVID-19 health crisis. To ensure the safety of all current and future patrons, the refreshed design allows for maximum flow in common areas. This permits proper social distancing and programming modification in a post COVID-19 environment. All new safety measures follow best practices recommended by the CDC.
Enhancements reflected in the new renderings include the addition of an upgraded pre-function lobby between the ballroom and new community room; a new memorial and pre-function space for personal reflection; new and accessible entryways and walkways throughout the campus are still included, as well as a covered colonnade along the lower level of the ballroom. This colonnade will provide ease of access to the new waterfront boardwalk. The renderings were influenced by best-practice standards and materiality was chosen with regards to native plantings, conservation, and wildlife protection. The natural materials selected allow for a monumental presentation, taking design cues from the historic Alger House.
Additional critical updates include a redesigned kitchen layout to service the ballroom and new community room; an increased number of restroom facilities; an updated parking layout with additional spaces; safety upgrades will include touchless doorways and entries to enable proper COVID-19 precautionary measure.
The updated design honors the original work of Charles A. Platt, who designed the historic Alger house, and Ellen Biddle Shipman, who created the estate’s original landscape design. In fact, the new ceiling design featured in both the ballroom and community room will pay homage to Shipman’s work through an elegant yet understated styling. These spaces will serve as transformable venues very well-equipped to serve the community.
Said Thomas Smith, War Memorial board of directors chairman, “The quality of our updated design is a testament to the creativity, practicality, and world-class professionalism of the ROSSETTI team. There’s an undeniable poetry in the way the colonnade brings to mind soldiers marching in formation, or how the beveled edges of our new entryway exactly replicate the angled roofline of the historic house. These details help to make our already special institution that much more remarkable.”
The War Memorial plans to share these new renderings with Grosse Pointe Farms city officials at their city council meeting scheduled for Monday, July 13 at 7pm. The public is invited to engage with this project and its development by visiting www.warmemorial.org/future. Community feedback is welcome and encouraged and may be sent via the website or directly to feedback@warmemorial.org.
About The War Memorial
For more than 70 years, The War Memorial has been Metro Detroit’s patriotic, cultural, and community center – a unique environment with more than 3,000 events and 250,000 visitors annually.
The War Memorial provides a place to celebrate the ideals of American democracy and to honor and remember those who have defended those ideals with tireless effort and personal sacrifice.
World-class cultural and artistic offerings in 2019 included live performances by The Juilliard String Quartet; Michigan Opera Theatre; Imani Winds; and members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. A full season of live cinematic broadcasts from New York City’s Metropolitan Opera thrilled audiences, as did The War Memorial’s premiere participation in the Freep Film Festival.
The organization’s ever-growing commitment to presenting influential and inspiring speakers has included former first daughter Barbara Pierce Bush; Maj. Mary Jennings Hegar; Dr. Cornell West; Glennon Doyle Melton; and many local and regional intellectuals, including a full series of lectures from Oakland University professors. Additionally, The War Memorial hosts discussions with regional and national thought leaders on its monthly radio show and podcast, Inspired Heroes.
Community celebrations included SummerFest, the annual multiweek festival of free concerts, movies, and theatrical performances.
Patriotic and veterans’ events included the longstanding and beloved Memorial Day Service; 9/11 Service of Remembrance; Veterans Day Breakfast; 1,000 Christmas Salutes; as well as enlistment and retirement ceremonies, free military concerts, and the Evening of Red, White, and Blue gala fundraiser.
The War Memorial serves its community by supporting the diverse offerings of resident partners, including, but not limited to, the Grosse Pointe Artists Association; the Grosse Pointe Garden Center; The Family Center; the Junior League of Detroit; the Grosse Pointes-Harper Woods NAACP Branch; the Eastside Republican Club; the Grosse Pointe Democratic Club; the Grosse Pointe Senior Ladies Club; the Senior Men’s Club of Grosse Pointe; the Grosse Pointe Veterans Club; and faith-based youth group, WyldLife.
Ranked a top Grosse Pointe attraction by survey respondents, The Patriot Theater at The War Memorial features a wide variety of films and documentaries ranging from historical dramas, comedies, children’s entertainment and art appreciation, as well as partnerships with authors and filmmakers. In 2019, The Patriot Theater became a premiere venue for the Freep Film Festival; this honor will continue in 2020.
With new programming and innovative leadership, The War Memorial is a unique, dynamic and forward-thinking hub for southeast Michigan with a mission to be a patriotic, cultural, and community leader. More information can be found at www.warmemorial.org
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Media Contacts
Da’Stanza Murphy
Director of Communications and Advancement
313.332.4053
dmurphy@warmemorial.org