CLIENT: Detroit Athletic Club
LOCATION: Detroit, MI
YEAR: 2021-2024
MPA modernized the main kitchen of the historic Detroit Athletic Club, which has not been renovated in over 50 years. The 6,000-square-foot kitchen serves important areas such as the main ballroom and Georgian and Pontchartrain rooms, and the project aims to protect the significant fresco ceilings in the Gallery and Fresco dining rooms below.
MPA assembled a detail-oriented consultant team and collaborated with the DAC chef over a year for design and documentation, followed by another year for procurement, allowing for a six-month construction timeline without delays from long material lead times.
The design includes a chef’s table dining room in the kitchen, positioned near the main entrance and central plating table. This space features a black-steel storefront system from the UK with sliding doors, a pantry with blackened metal cabinets, and a microgreen growing station. During research, MPA found original documents indicating a dining table once existed in the kitchen, prompting them to reintroduce this feature to highlight the culinary team's talents to club members and guests.
