The Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA) manages the operations of the Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) and Willow Run Airport, which together make up one of the world's leading air transportation hubs. With ambitions for continued development and the potential for significant growth in the coming years, the WCAA sought to develop a new facility, the Michael Berry Administration Building, where their management and administration teams could connect and collaborate to take both airports to new heights.
We worked closely with the WCAA to design a dynamic work environment for their staff of more than 200 employees. Our layout incorporates open workspaces to facilitate interaction among team members. The office features a series of formal and informal meeting spaces, low partitions workstations, a fitness center, and a central open atrium space that infuses the middle of the building with natural light. The atrium space connects each floor to a centralized hub that features a coffee station and an informal teaming area.
Our exterior design consists of a metal panel wall system and continuous ribbon window to complement the architectural style of the adjacent North Terminal at DTW.
Additionally, we designed the facility's mechanical system to tie into the airport's central energy plant. Routing the underground utilities was a major design effort due to the proximity of the new administration building and the central plant.
Our design considered modern workplace best practices, security concerns, and sustainable principles - the facility was designed to meet LEED certification to align with the WCAA's "Green Initiative". Today, the Berry Administration Building serves as a hub where new ideas can take flight.