The Clayton University Center (CUC) will undergo an extensive renovation and reconfiguration that will create a dynamic new environment for undergraduate and graduate student life, while preserving the building’s historic grandeur. Plans call for reimagined spaces for dining, studying, socializing and meeting: a large campus “living room” where students will relax, eat or collaborate on projects; eateries offering an array of options; a pub; lounge areas and club space for student organizations; and glass-enclosed, multi-use meeting spaces throughout the building. Mechanical and life safety systems will be improved, and a new open stair between the second and third floors will better connect the floors.

Metropolitan Park is the first phase of Amazon’s more than $2.5B development commitment to HQ2 over the next decade. This development includes two 22-story office buildings, more than 50,000sf of retail space for local small businesses and a 2-acre public park. In total, the construction project is more than 2.1M square feet. More than 3,000 skilled craft workers specializing in fields including electrical, mechanical, concrete, and carpentry have contributed to more than 1.4M hours of project work. Once complete, the project will include 200,000 cubic yards of concrete. The scope of work also included multiple tenant improvement projects for HQ2, which were not a part of the Met Park or Pen Place developments.

SkillSmart aided in the creation and implementation of a Labor Standard to ensure all workers received fair and appropriate wages, as well as eliminating the use of Labor Brokers on this project.

This 239,000 square foot state-of-the-art performance training and athletic medical center is comprised of three structures, connected to give the impression of continuous development.
Early on in the project, the Christman/Brinker team sought out creative ways to guarantee manpower and provide schedule certainty in a market where the workforce is currently saturated. This led to the team negotiating self-perform work for multiple trades, including concrete, building flatwork and foundations, interior and exterior glazing, general trades, flooring, and electric. The team also developed and deployed a self-perform mentor protégé program that selected smaller, Detroit-based trade contractor companies to take part in a variety of on-site educational and development opportunities.