Ronn Pearson
Executive Creative Director
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Ford 'Michigan Central OPEN'

After Decades of Dilapidation, Michigan Central Station Makes a Motor City Comeback.

For thirty years, Detroit’s grandest building loomed windowless over a crumbling neighborhood. Closed and forgotten, the city called it “The Tombstone,” a symbol of neglect and decline.

So when Ford spent a billion dollars bringing her back to life, she needed an opening worthy of her grandeur. “Michigan Central: Open” reintroduced Detroit to their iconic train station, telling the story of how it came to be, how it fell and how the strength and determination of their city brought it back from the brink.

 

Yes, he did.

Oh, yes. She did, too.

 

THE FLOW OF TIME

Detroiters’ first step into the remade Station leads them into a blockbuster view of The Grand Hall. We complemented its natural majesty with a low-lying sculpture that told the story of the The Station from 1913 to now.

Working closely with the Detroit Historical Society, we contextualized over a hundred years of The Station’s history with the city it helped build.

 

THE POSTER VAULT

Across the storied past of Michigan Central is a rich history of graphic design spanning many decades. The Poster Vault puts this story on display in a striking, floor to ceiling takeover.

Beautiful vintage ephemera like postcards and news clippings were up-res’d with artificial intelligence to fill the walls of the Poster Vault. Hundreds of square feet were meticulously curated to take visitors on a visual journey.

 

FACES OF MICHIGAN CENTRAL

Step further in, and you’ll find a more personal side of The Station. Faces of Michigan Central is a portrait exhibit accompanied by an audio experience, with individuals from every generation recounting their special connection to The Station.

You see, everyone in Detroit has a Michigan Central story. Many immigrated through The Station long ago, others threw raves here in the 90s. This cross-section of human connection reminds us that it's the people that fill The Station’s halls that give it meaning.

 

OPEN ARCHIVE: THE STATION MUSEUM

The Station stands today thanks to over 3,000 tradespeople who transformed it across five years of restoration. Open Archive tells the story of that process through the artifacts they found along the way.

Some were hunted down to be scanned and recreated, others returned covertly under cover of night. This museum of historical elements and photographs shows how far The Station has come and the techniques used to resurrect it.

 

THE KIDS CORNER

As a major city event bringing in 7,000 visitors a day, we wanted to make sure families had a place their kids could have some space to enjoy The Station their way.

Turned out pretty popular with the adults, too.