MotorCity Casino Hotel celebrates the city’s automotive heritage through a bold 26-acre destination that combines a casino, entertainment center, parking structure, and 400-room hotel, into a landmark reflecting the identity of Detroit, MI.
Challenge
The challenge was to create a contemporary destination that honors Detroit’s automotive legacy while preserving the character of the historic 1915 Wagner Baking Company building. The design needed to unite new hospitality, gaming, and entertainment functions within a cohesive architectural expression.
Solution
Working with renowned automotive designer Chip Foose, our team drew inspiration from the classic American cars of the 1950s and 60s. Automotive design elements were integrated with the preserved brick façade of the former Wagner Baking Company building, combining historic architecture with curved forms, an undulating ribbon roof, and modern materials. Building Information Modeling (BIM) and CATIA software helped communicate and refine the design vision.
Outcome
MotorCity Casino Hotel celebrates Detroit’s industrial and automotive heritage while creating a distinctive destination for visitors. The adaptive reuse of the historic Wagner Baking Company building, combined with new hospitality and entertainment offerings, contributes to the city’s ongoing revitalization and serves as a catalyst for future urban development.
The design draws inspiration from the classic American automobiles of the 1950s and 60s, developed in collaboration with a renowned automotive designer.
The historic 1915 Wagner Baking Company building was preserved and integrated into the new development, linking Detroit’s industrial and automotive heritage.
Located in Detroit, Michigan, MotorCity Casino and entertainment center is emblazoned with the city’s nickname, which is a salute to its automotive legacy. Finding a way to honor this legacy determined the design for this high-profile hospitality project. NORR’s design team worked with a well-known car designer to incorporate distinctive design elements of classic American cars of the 1950s and 60s.
We meshed these automotive elements with the architectural features of the 1915 Wagner Baking Company building that already stood on the site. Famous for Wonder Bread and Hostess cakes, the building’s historic brick exterior was preserved and integrated into the curved facade and undulating ribbon roof elements of the new hospitality building. Sleek stainless steel, tinted glass and aluminum give this dynamically themed building its retro automotive flair. NORR designers used Building Information Modeling (BIM) and CATIA, a program familiar to the automotive design industry to clearly communicate our design intent. MotorCity Casino celebrates Detroit in its heyday and serves as a catalyst for future urban development.
