the shop at michigan central station

Client: Michigan Central Station
Services: Architecture, Interior Design, Signage Design

Michigan Central Station is an iconic American landmark; originally built in 1914 as a passenger railway station, the long-abandoned structure was renovated in 2024 by the Ford Motor Company as part of a campus focused on community revitalization and the future of mobility. ACT was selected as part of a group of nationally recognized design firms to lead a part of the Station’s redevelopment.

Our project for The Shop at Michigan Central Station focused on creating a modular, vibrant retail space that could grow and change over time. Intended to be cost-effective and fast-paced, the design includes a system of polycarbonate, wood, and metal fixtures that can display a range of products from local Detroit makers. Currently, The Shop features a collage of posters of past Detroit music events as a backdrop to the dynamic shop display.

Photography by Jason Keen, Stephanie Rhoades Hume / Michigan Central, and Nadir Ali / Michigan Central