Location
Bloomfield Hills, MI
Original Construction
1907
Completion Date
Ongoing
National Historic Landmark
National and State Register Listed

The Cranbrook Educational Community complex is a masterpiece of architecture, sculpture, and landscape elements. Evolving since its beginning in 1907, much of the 315-acre campus was designed by Eliel Saarinen between 1925 and 1942, including the original Cranbrook Institute of Science. Founded by George Gough Booth, the private educational community is a major cultural resource for southeast Michigan and enjoys a national reputation for its dedication to the arts.

Cranbrook House and Gardens is a focal point of the Community and serves as its symbolic center. The former estate of George Gough and Ellen Scripps Booth was purchased in 1904 and continually expanded and embellished during their residence; drawings for the original house by Albert Kahn are dated 1907.

In the late 1990’s, Architects Four, parent company of HopkinsBurns, conducted a comprehensive space-use study of the campus high school, middle school, administrative, and housing facilities to address increasing space requirements and preservation of the historic physical plant. This effort was followed by a physical assessment of the exterior envelopes of five buildings—including Cranbrook House, the Garden, and the Walls—and the extensive formal stone masonry walls. There was an evaluation of the clay-tile, slate, and copper roofs; unique ornamental brick and stone masonry; stucco; windows and doors; porches and steps; structural conditions; and site drainage, establishing the scope, cost, and phasing of necessary repairs. The reports also included analysis of historic image, landscaping, and public safety, with recommendations for improvement, restoration and renovation phasing plans, and construction cost estimates.

In 1999, SmithGroup served as Owner’s Representative and provided Contract Administration services for the renovation of the Cranbrook Institute of Science, designed by Steven Holl as the second phase of the Institute’s expansion program. SmithGroup worked closely with the design architect to ensure that all architectural, exhibit, and support spaces were implemented as required.

Most recently, Construction Documents and specifications were developed for the repair of ornamented brick masonry chimneys, replacement of the clay tile roofs reconstruction of deteriorated plaza decks at Cranbrook House, preservation and repair of unstable garden retaining walls and stone balustrades, and structural repairs at the Tower Cottage Annex, in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and subject to review by the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office.