Book Tower
Presented by: Suzanne Provanzana, Buro Happold, Principal | US Structures Discipline Lead
Originally opened in 1926, the Louis Kamper-designed tower stands as a prominent feature of Detroit’s skyline and was once envisioned as the anchor of a new commercial corridor running through the city center. The Tower, built for the Book brothers, a trio of real-estate investors, completed construction in 1927.
The pair of properties share the styles of Italian Renaissance and Academic Classicism—the skyscraper with a copper roof atop Corinthian columns, the high-rise with a cornice supported by caryatids. The structure, which was fully vacated in 2009, was acquired by Bedrock in 2015 with a vision for re-imagining the building as a vibrant mixed-use development, featuring a new hotel, retail, office, residential, restaurants and bars, as well as event and meeting spaces. The project is envisioned as a significant catalyst for the wider regeneration of downtown Detroit.
Book Tower represents one of the largest adaptive reuse projects Buro Happold has worked on in North America. The historic building, which at one time was the tallest in Detroit, rises 38 stories above Washington Boulevard at the heart of the city.
About the presenter:
With over 25 years of structural engineering experience, Suzanne Provanzana is the U.S. Discipline Lead and a Principal at Buro Happold, a global multidisciplinary engineering consultancy focused on the built environment. Ms. Provanzana is a licensed Structural Engineer and Professional Engineer in the state of Illinois and is a LEED Accredited Professional. A dedicated practitioner, she is currently managing several large-scale projects across the globe. Throughout her career, Suzanne has engineered and managed numerous structurally complex projects – from sports and entertainment venues and commercial and residential developments to prestigious higher education institutions and transportation projects. An expert in concrete and steel structural solutions, Suzanne marries her deep technical expertise with adept project management skills to deliver successful client outcomes.
Outside of the work, Suzanne is the secretary of the Chicago Chapter of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) and serves on the Sustainable Design Committee of the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois (SEAoI). She spent a decade of her career volunteering with the ACE Mentor Program. She has been published in several national and international industry media outlets, including the American Bar Association, Modern Steel Construction, and Structure.
This meeting will take place at:
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)
224 S Michigan Ave
Suite 1000,
Chicago, IL 60604
The committee meeting will start at the usual time 5:00 pm with drinks and appetizers. At 6:00 pm we will adjourn for our business meeting and technical presentation.
Do you have a program you would like to share with the committee, please feel free to reach out to our program coordinator at jose.estrada@clarkdietrich.com
