Capitol News

After a year of construction, the final steel beam was placed at the site of the Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences Research Center in Detroit. The center is located on Third Street, near Henry Ford Health’s headquarters and the Henry Ford Health + Detroit Pistons Performance Center.

Bob Riney, president and CEO of Henry Ford Health, and Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D., president of Michigan State University, led a ceremony attended by team members and researchers from both organizations to celebrate this milestone. Some attendees signed the 21-foot beam with messages about future achievements within the completed building.

The research conducted at this center will cover various disciplines such as cancer, neuroscience, cardiovascular health, immunology, and neurofibromatosis through the Nick Gilbert Neurofibromatosis Research Institute. The partnership aims to find cures for diseases affecting many Michiganders. Although research has already begun under this partnership, the research center itself is expected to open in 2027.

Construction crews from Barton Malow have used nearly 3,000 tons of steel and over 5,200 steel beams with close to 50,000 bolts for the building's superstructure. They have also completed 12 miles of duct work and poured 18,000 cubic yards of structural concrete. The next phase involves enclosing the building and working on its internal structure.

The seven-story building occupies six acres along Third Street near Lodge Freeway in Detroit. It is designed to accommodate more than 80 principal investigator teams and offer opportunities for over 500 team members. Additionally, it will house the Nick Gilbert Neurofibromatosis Research Institute, which is dedicated to neurofibromatosis research.