Fort Shelby Hotel
| Company type | Hotel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hospitality |
| Founded | 1917 |
| Headquarters | Detroit , United States |
| Products | Guest suites, apartments, conference center |
| Website | doubletree3 |
The DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Detroit Downtown - Fort Shelby is a historic high-rise hotel that has been restored and is located at 525 West Lafayette Boulevard in Downtown Detroit, Michigan.
History
Constructed in 1917 by a group of investors, the original hotel was designed as an economical lodging option near Fort Street Union Depot. The architectural firm Schmidt, Garden & Martin created the initial 10-story building featuring 450 rooms, known as the Fort Shelby Hotel. Its popularity prompted an expansion in 1927 with a new 27-story addition, also containing 450 rooms, designed by Albert Kahn. Plans for a further extension were abandoned due to the economic impact of the Great Depression. In 1951, ownership transferred to Albert Pick Hotels Company, which rebranded the property as The Pick-Fort Shelby.
During the period under Pick's management, a mural in the lobby was commissioned from Chicago artist Louis Grell. However, by the late 1960s and early 1970s, competition from suburban hotels led to declining occupancy rates. The hotel ceased operations in 1973 but was reopened a year later by three investors as The Shelby Hotel, targeting younger guests with a combination of hotel and apartment accommodations. This venture was short-lived, and the hotel closed again shortly thereafter. The Anchor Bar remained on site as the sole occupant until it moved in 1994. The building was recognized for its historical significance and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
Preparations for renovation commenced in June 2006 with thorough structural and environmental evaluations. Redevelopment efforts were launched in early 2007 by MCP & Associates. The Ann Arbor-based firm Hobbs + Black Associates Inc. managed the renovation project announced on June 26, 2007. Detroit's L.S. Brinker directed the overall restoration, while Farmington Hills contractor McCarthy & Smith Inc. was responsible for completing the Bar & Grill on the first floor.
The hotel officially reopened on December 15, 2008, under the name DoubleTree Guest Suites by Hilton Detroit Downtown - Fort Shelby. The revitalized property now offers 203 guest suites along with 56 apartments on the upper floors. Additionally, it includes a conference center equipped with two ballrooms and seventeen breakout rooms.
External links
- DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Detroit Downtown - Fort Shelby official website