The Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA) has developed a strategically competitive expansion plan for Huntington Place Convention Center, which is the 16th largest convention center in the United States and hosts more than a million visitors a year. The redevelopment will enhance Huntington's competitive position in the industry, provide guests with new and innovative gathering spaces, and advance a transformational vision that reconnects downtown Detroit, Huntington Place, and the riverfront into a more accessible and vibrant destination. The project scope includes:
- Convention Center renovations: Multiple projects throughout Huntington Place to enhance the facility and create a better guest experience, including adding approximately 20,000 SF of new event space to the convention center’s southwest corner
- Parking: Renovations to the garage for the former Joe Louis Arena to expand parking options and capacity for the convention center
- Infrastructure: Improving downtown infrastructure to establish better traffic flow for vehicles and pedestrians, including the creation of the Skybridge Connector, a climate-controlled link between Huntington Place and the JW Marriott across Second Avenue that will serve as a new entry point and engagement with the Detroit Riverfront district
When envisioning the project, DRCFA understood that completing it successfully while maintaining a robust schedule of hundreds of annual events would require experienced project leadership. They engaged Plante Moran Realpoint as their owner’s representative to help navigate project planning, oversight, and reporting.
Coordinating a complex capital program
A redevelopment project of this scale is a complex undertaking, requiring oversight and coordination across multiple, complex, simultaneous project elements with stakeholders within DRCFA, the City of Detroit, and surrounding businesses. As DRCFA’s representative, we coordinated all planning activities, including cost estimates, a master construction schedule and sequencing, procurement, and approvals.
As construction continues, PMR maintains and updates project schedules, oversees project teams, recommends corrective actions to confirm the work meets the schedule and budget, and coordinates work schedules with Huntington Place’s operations schedule and major City of Detroit events that will affect the project. This also includes routine reporting on project progress, budget, cash flow status, schedule, risks, and key decisions.
Our role is to provide clear oversight, timely reporting, and practical guidance so DRCFA can make informed decisions and steadily move the whole effort forward.
New opportunities for revenue generation
As the project evolved, PMR helped DRCFA identify opportunities to maximize the long-term value of its investment. One such opportunity was the addition of a rooftop event space above the new Skybridge Connector, creating a unique venue with panoramic views of the Detroit River and downtown Detroit.
PMR provided a feasibility analysis to help the client understand the budget and schedule impacts of this enhancement of the project scope. DRCFA decided to move forward with the addition, which will complement Huntington Place’s already robust options and offer a gorgeous view of the Detroit River, a sought-after feature in downtown event spaces.
Delivering confidence every step of the way
From planning through execution, PMR provides the oversight and accountability needed to help large, multifaceted projects like the Huntington Place redevelopment stay aligned with client goals.
Need help managing a complex project with multiple stakeholders, schedules, and priorities? Contact Plante Moran Realpoint to discuss how our owner's representation services can support your success.
