You’ve probably driven past that massive, six-story brick fortress in Detroit’s New Center and wondered what actually goes on in there. It’s huge. Honestly, the scale of One Ford Place Detroit is hard to wrap your head around until you’re standing right under its shadow. It covers nearly an entire city block, and for decades, it’s been the quiet backbone of the Henry Ford Health empire.
But things are shifting. Fast.
If you haven’t heard the news yet, the building is about to go through a total identity crisis—in the best way possible. We're talking about a $2.5 billion neighborhood overhaul that basically turns this corporate relic into a massive residential hub. It’s not just "another renovation." It's a fundamental change in how the New Center neighborhood functions.
The Burroughs Adding Machine Ghost
Before it was One Ford Place, this was the home of the Burroughs Adding Machine Co. It’s an Albert Kahn masterpiece, which in Detroit is the gold standard of industrial architecture. Kahn didn't just build factories; he built cathedrals of efficiency.
When Henry Ford Health (then called Henry Ford Health System) bought the place in 1992, it was a move to prove they weren't abandoning the city. Everyone else was fleeing to the suburbs back then. Gail Warden, the CEO at the time, made it clear: they were staying. They took this 610,000-square-foot monster and filled it with researchers, lawyers, and HR teams.
It worked for a long time.
But then the pandemic happened. Office culture crumbled. Suddenly, having a half-million-square-foot office building didn't make a whole lot of sense when half the staff was working from their kitchen tables.
Residential Is the New Corporate
The current plan for One Ford Place Detroit is part of a giant collaboration between Henry Ford Health, Michigan State University, and Tom Gores (the guy who owns the Pistons). It's called the "Future of Health" project.
Instead of cubicles, we’re looking at more than 400 apartments.
Bob Riney, the current CEO of Henry Ford Health, actually mentioned that people working in the building have been saying for years that it would make "great lofts." They aren't wrong. The ceilings are high, the windows are massive, and the "bones" are solid steel and concrete.
What's actually interesting about this specific project is the "mixed-income" promise.
- Market-rate units: These will likely be the sleek, industrial lofts that young professionals crave.
- Affordable housing: About 20% of the units are designated as affordable housing, specifically for people earning around 60% of the area median income (AMI).
- The "Worker" appeal: They expect their own hospital staff to live there. Imagine walking across the street to the new $2.2 billion hospital tower instead of fighting the Lodge Freeway.
It’s a smart play. If you build the housing, the people stay. If the people stay, the retail follows.
What’s Happening Right Now?
If you walk by 1 Ford Place today, you might see some activity, but the real heavy lifting is happening across the street first. The new 20-story patient tower is the priority.
The timeline for One Ford Place itself is a bit further out. Most reports point toward construction kicking into high gear between 2027 and 2029. Right now, administrative teams are still trickling out. You can’t just move a thousand office workers and a bunch of high-tech research labs overnight.
It’s a domino effect.
- Build the new shared services building and parking decks (some of this is finishing up in 2026).
- Move the researchers to the new Henry Ford Health + MSU research center.
- Gut One Ford Place and start the residential conversion.
Why Should You Care?
Detroit has seen a lot of "comeback" stories, but New Center is different. It’s not downtown. It’s not Midtown. It’s this weird, historic pocket that has always felt a little disjointed.
One Ford Place Detroit becoming residential acts like a giant anchor. It connects the hospital campus to the rest of the neighborhood. Plus, they’re planning a centralized community park and a lot of ground-floor retail. We’re talking coffee shops, maybe a small grocer, and places that actually make a neighborhood feel like a neighborhood rather than just a place where you go to get an MRI.
There’s also the "Green" factor. The whole campus is moving toward being fully electric-capable. They’re building a Central Energy Hub nearby that’s going to heat and cool these buildings without relying on natural gas. It’s a massive technical feat that most people will never see, but it matters for the city’s footprint.
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The Reality Check
It isn't all sunshine and renderings. There’s been plenty of pushback.
When the Detroit City Council was debating the tax incentives—nearly $300 million worth—the room was split. Some residents are terrified of displacement. They see "market-rate lofts" and they think "gentrification."
The developers argue that because they're converting an old office building and adding a huge chunk of affordable units, they're actually preventing displacement by increasing the total supply of housing. It’s a classic Detroit debate. You have the "Big Development" camp vs. the "Don't Forget the Residents" camp.
Actionable Insights for the Curious
If you're looking at One Ford Place Detroit as a potential place to live or invest, here is what you need to know:
- Watch the Timeline: Don't expect to sign a lease in 2026. This is a long-term play. The residential side likely won't be ready until the tail end of the decade.
- Neighborhood Value: New Center is currently "cheaper" than Midtown, but that gap is closing. Projects like Piquette Flats and the various Roxbury Group developments are already raising the bar.
- Employment Hub: If you work in healthcare or biotech, this is going to be the epicenter of the state. The MSU partnership is bringing in hundreds of researchers.
- Check the Amenities: The plan includes a 1,500-space parking garage. In Detroit, that's basically gold.
The transformation of One Ford Place Detroit is more than just a renovation. It's the final proof that the "office-to-residential" trend isn't just a fad—it's the only way some of these massive historic structures are going to survive in a post-2020 world. It’s going to be a loud, dusty few years in New Center, but the result will likely change the skyline of the North End forever.
Keep an eye on the Detroit Development Tracker for permit updates. The city is moving fast, and this building is the one to watch.