The Roberts Riverwalk Urban Resort Hotel, formerly the Parke-Davis Research Laboratory also once known as Building 55-Detroit Research,[3] is a luxury hotel on the Detroit International Riverfront in Detroit, Michigan. The former research facility was redeveloped as a boutique luxury hotel in the 1980s. The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976 for its historic significance as an early research laboratory.[1][2][4]
Parke-Davis moved its facilities to this location along the Detroit River in the 1870s to take advantage of the transportation provided by the river and nearby rail lines.[5] The company eventually built 26 still-extant buildings in the area; the Parke-Davis campus as a whole, now known as Stroh River Place, is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. However, the most significant structure in the group, the Parke-Davis Research Laboratory, is individually recognized as a National Historic Landmark.
The Research Laboratory was built in 1902 after Parke-Davis relocated the Detroit Boat Club to Belle Isle.[6] The Detroit architectural firm of Donaldson & Meier designed the original building; later additions were designed by Albert Kahn.[6] The building is a three-story brick building measuring approximately 120 by 40 feet (37 by 12 m), and is typical example of public architecture of the period.[3]
Later history and current useedit
In 1979, Parke-Davis sold its Detroit complex, including the Research Laboratory, to the Stroh family (of Stroh Brewery Company).[6] The complex's redevelopment into River Place included the conversion of the Research Laboratory to a hotel, known as the River Place Inn at its opening,[7] designed by firm Sims–Varner.[8] Bruning Development Corp purchased the hotel from the Stroh family in 1993, and signed Grand Heritage Hotels to manage and brand the property.[citation needed]
In 1998, the property was acquired by Omni Hotels & Resorts, and rebranded as the Omni Hotel Detroit at River Place.[7] Omni closed the hotel in 2010, and it was acquired by St. Louis real estate developer Michael V. Roberts.[9] The hotel underwent a $5 million renovation, which included the addition of a new conference center, and reopened in May 2011 as the Roberts Riverwalk Hotel.[10]
In 2002, National Park Service staff recommended withdrawal of the site's landmark status due to loss of the building's historic integrity during the conversion.[11]
Significanceedit
This building was the first industrial research laboratory in the U.S. established for the specific purpose of conducting pharmacological research, inaugurating the commercial pure science approach which has driven the rapid development of pharmaceutical technology.[5][12]
^ ab. National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2008-06-07. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
^ abParke-Davis Research Laboratory 2011-06-06 at the Wayback Machine from the state of Michigan
^Note: A National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination document should be available upon request from the National Park Service for this site, but it appears not to be available on-line from the NPS Focus search site.
^ abParke-Davis and Company Plant and Research Laboratory from the National Park Service.
^ abcSobocinski, Melanie Grunow; Ronnick, Michele Valerie; Beaudoen, Marlise; Gallery, Alfred Berkowitz (2005). Detroit and Rome: Building on the Past. Dearborn: The Regents of the University of Michigan. p. 97. ISBN0-933691-09-2.
^ abReindl, J. C. (2020-11-10). "Boutique hotel on Detroit riverfront asks $26 million". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
^"Stroh Brewery Sims-Varner". Jet. Earl G. Graves Ltd. March 1987. p. 73.
^Gallagher, John (2014-11-30). "Can riverfront hotel become resort within Detroit?". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
^Parke-Davis Research Laboratory 2008-06-07 at the Wayback Machine from the National Historic Landmarks Program
^Parke-Davis Research Laboratory from the state of Michigan Dept of History & Libraries
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Omni Detroit Hotel at River Place.
Official website
Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. MI-19, "Parke-Davis Industrial Site, Bounded by MacDougall & Joseph Campau Avenues, Detroit, Wayne County, MI", 20 photos, 3 data pages, covers a number of related buildings but apparently not this one, if it is correct that this one is Building 55.
April 13, 2024
riverwalk, hotel, detroit, roberts, riverwalk, urban, resort, hotel, formerly, parke, davis, research, laboratory, also, once, known, building, detroit, research, luxury, hotel, detroit, international, riverfront, detroit, michigan, former, research, facility,. The Roberts Riverwalk Urban Resort Hotel formerly the Parke Davis Research Laboratory also once known as Building 55 Detroit Research 3 is a luxury hotel on the Detroit International Riverfront in Detroit Michigan The former research facility was redeveloped as a boutique luxury hotel in the 1980s The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976 for its historic significance as an early research laboratory 1 2 4 Parke Davis Research LaboratoryU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S National Historic LandmarkOmni Hotel Detroit 2008LocationDetroit Michigan United StatesCoordinates42 20 13 N 83 0 52 W 42 33694 N 83 01444 W 42 33694 83 01444Built1873 1902ArchitectDonaldson and Meier Albert KahnArchitectural styleRomanesque RevivalNRHP reference No 76001039Significant datesAdded to NRHPMay 11 1976 1 Designated NHLMay 11 1976 2 Contents 1 History 1 1 Later history and current use 2 Significance 3 Gallery 4 References 5 External linksHistory editParke Davis moved its facilities to this location along the Detroit River in the 1870s to take advantage of the transportation provided by the river and nearby rail lines 5 The company eventually built 26 still extant buildings in the area the Parke Davis campus as a whole now known as Stroh River Place is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places However the most significant structure in the group the Parke Davis Research Laboratory is individually recognized as a National Historic Landmark The Research Laboratory was built in 1902 after Parke Davis relocated the Detroit Boat Club to Belle Isle 6 The Detroit architectural firm of Donaldson amp Meier designed the original building later additions were designed by Albert Kahn 6 The building is a three story brick building measuring approximately 120 by 40 feet 37 by 12 m and is typical example of public architecture of the period 3 Later history and current use edit In 1979 Parke Davis sold its Detroit complex including the Research Laboratory to the Stroh family of Stroh Brewery Company 6 The complex s redevelopment into River Place included the conversion of the Research Laboratory to a hotel known as the River Place Inn at its opening 7 designed by firm Sims Varner 8 Bruning Development Corp purchased the hotel from the Stroh family in 1993 and signed Grand Heritage Hotels to manage and brand the property citation needed In 1998 the property was acquired by Omni Hotels amp Resorts and rebranded as the Omni Hotel Detroit at River Place 7 Omni closed the hotel in 2010 and it was acquired by St Louis real estate developer Michael V Roberts 9 The hotel underwent a 5 million renovation which included the addition of a new conference center and reopened in May 2011 as the Roberts Riverwalk Hotel 10 In 2002 National Park Service staff recommended withdrawal of the site s landmark status due to loss of the building s historic integrity during the conversion 11 Significance editThis building was the first industrial research laboratory in the U S established for the specific purpose of conducting pharmacological research inaugurating the commercial pure science approach which has driven the rapid development of pharmaceutical technology 5 12 Gallery edit nbsp Rear of the Parke Davis lab now the entrance nbsp Door facing Detroit River References edit a b National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service January 23 2007 a b Parke Davis Research Laboratory National Historic Landmark summary listing National Park Service Archived from the original on 2008 06 07 Retrieved 2008 05 03 a b Parke Davis Research Laboratory Archived 2011 06 06 at the Wayback Machine from the state of Michigan Note A National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination document should be available upon request from the National Park Service for this site but it appears not to be available on line from the NPS Focus search site a b Parke Davis and Company Plant and Research Laboratory from the National Park Service a b c Sobocinski Melanie Grunow Ronnick Michele Valerie Beaudoen Marlise Gallery Alfred Berkowitz 2005 Detroit and Rome Building on the Past Dearborn The Regents of the University of Michigan p 97 ISBN 0 933691 09 2 a b Reindl J C 2020 11 10 Boutique hotel on Detroit riverfront asks 26 million Detroit Free Press Retrieved 2022 06 24 Stroh Brewery Sims Varner Jet Earl G Graves Ltd March 1987 p 73 Gallagher John 2014 11 30 Can riverfront hotel become resort within Detroit Detroit Free Press Retrieved 2022 06 24 Roberts Riverwalk Hotel Detroit Parke Davis Research Laboratory Archived 2008 06 07 at the Wayback Machine from the National Historic Landmarks Program Parke Davis Research Laboratory from the state of Michigan Dept of History amp LibrariesExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Omni Detroit Hotel at River Place Official website Historic American Engineering Record HAER No MI 19 Parke Davis Industrial Site Bounded by MacDougall amp Joseph Campau Avenues Detroit Wayne County MI 20 photos 3 data pages covers a number of related buildings but apparently not this one if it is correct that this one is Building 55 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Riverwalk Hotel Detroit amp oldid 1218112913, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
