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Hot Openings: Converted Detroit Foundation debuts

Chicago-based Aparium Hotel Group has opened its latest venture, the Detroit Foundation Hotel, located in the former headquarters of the city’s fire department.

The Apparatus Room at the Detroit Foundation
The Apparatus Room at the Detroit Foundation

Helmed by Chicago hotel developers Mario Tricoci and Kevin Robinson, Aparium has invested heavily in conversions in recent years, retrofitting a century-old Kentucky department store to the tune of US$22 million last April and revamping a Wisconsin chocolate factory in 2015.

The 100-room hotel was designed in partnership with Simeone Deary Design Group and Detroit-based McIntosh Poris Associates. Guests enter the five-story neoclassical building through a massive arched, terra cotta-faced portal, originally one of the fire engine doors now featuring hand-crafted door handles.

Guestrooms include queen, double, and king rooms, junior suites as well as the larger Commissioner Suite. Each features a locally-constructed headboard wall made entirely of repurposed wood. These statement walls are complemented by custom wallpaper with printed photographs of historic Detroit architecture. Rooms are decorated with deep chocolates and pastel metallics punctuated with pink and blue accents. 

King room
King room

Located off the hotel’s lobby on the first floor, the Foundation Studio will highlight the city’s arts and culture scene and will be programmed with rotating exhibits of local art, podcast programming with broadcast capabilities, and more.

Guests have access to in-room, custom suit tailoring via a local partnership. In addition, the hotel has a retail space curated by Mills Pharmacy & Apothecary which focuses on locally-sourced items.

The Apparatus Room is a New American restaurant with region-focused food from Michigan-native and two Michelin-starred chef Thomas Lents. The beverage program features classic and local-inspired craft cocktails and beer selections with a focused, refined wine list to complement the dining experience. During the daytime, The Apparatus Room bar serves as a coffee counter with local partner Anthology Coffee and their contemporary small-lot coffees along with sweet and savory pastries, created in-house.

The Chef’s Table at Detroit Foundation Hotel, located above the kitchen and overlooking The Apparatus Room, will launch later this year with a ticketed multi-course tasting menu from Lents.

Double Queen guest room
Double Queen guest room
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