Skidmore Moves Back In Downtown
Skidmore Studio opened its doors in Detroit Oct. 24, bringing 24 employees to 1555 Broadway, across from the Detroit Opera House and GrandCircus Park.
The return brings more creative professionals downtown, and ends the 7-year Detroit absence of the firm, which moved to Royal Oak in 2004.
Known for work for the Big Three car companies and other national accounts, a $300,000 Creative Corridor Incentive Fund Grant helped bring the studio back downtown, and will provide additional capital to help grow the business.
The move to its new 9,800 square-foot fourth floor studio space a return home for the creative studio, which focuses on branding and marketing strategies, graphic design, motion graphics, interactive design and online media. Founded in Downtown Detroit in 1959, Skidmore built an early reputation for its illustrative work for the Big Three car companies.
"We decided last year we wanted to be an integral part of the new excitement that is taking place in Downtown Detroit. We have a reputation as being a creative leader in our industry, and this was a chance to align our actions with our words," said Smith. "With the efforts of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation and Creative Corridor leadership, this collaboration represents an incredible opportunity for us to play a tangible role in the city's rebirth at a time when our organization is poised for rapid growth."
Skidmore was recently approved for a $300,000 Creative Corridor Incentive Fund Grant which will be used to grow the business and hire more Detroit-based creative designers, illustrators and motion graphic artists.
"We are excited to have Skidmore Studio as a solid anchor for Detroit's growing Creative Corridor," said Matt Clayson, Director, Detroit Creative Corridor Center. "With a legacy of strong, innovative design, Skidmore embodies the qualities of the various creative sector firms that we are looking to attract here. We look forward to Skidmore's continued growth and prosperity in Detroit."
Designed and built as a collaborative effort with Detroit-based firms Nuemann Smith Architecture and Patrick Thompson Design, Skidmore's space showcases its creative and illustrative work over the decades through mural walls and other custom built space. The design team also sought to preserve the history, integrity and charm of the 1917 building by retaining original terra cotta tile, concrete floors, steel beams and large window treatments. Skidmore also restored and displays an early 1900's Super Cinex movie projector, discovered on the floor during the construction.
The Madison Theatre was purchased by Dan Gilbert, Chairman and Founder of Detroit-based Quicken Loans in January 2011, and has undergone extensive renovations to transform the building into an open, colorful space designed to be the city's hub of technology and entrepreneurship.
"Detroit's brain gain is moving full speed ahead today as Skidmore Studio moves back to the city where it began," said Gilbert. "There is amazing energy in the city as companies all over are beginning to realize that the best talent in the region thirsts for an urban core where they can work, live and play."
To further announce and celebrate its downtown arrival, Skidmore also recently erected a large 50-by-30 foot banner on the side of new neighbor Music Hall with the message: "Now in Detroit. Skidmore Studio: Design as Bold as the City itself."
The Madison building was originally designed by architect C. Howard Crane and constructed in 1917 as part of the Madison Theater complex. The building's two street level tenants are Angelina Italian Bistro and StubHub.
