Detroit's Michigan Central Station getting new windows

The iconic and derelict Michigan Central Station in west Detroit is getting a face-lift.

The ornate train station opened Dec. 26, 1913 and served as Detroit's main train depot until it closed Jan. 5, 1988. It has been vacant and unused ever since.

For some, it has become the symbol of Detroit's financial woes and bankruptcy it's been empty, broken and boarded up for decades.

Chamberlain Glass & Metal Inc. of St. Clair, Mich., announced Monday that it has reached an agreement with the owners of the Michigan Central Station to install glass in all window openings throughout the tower.

The are more than 1,000 window openings extending 16 levels above the the streets.

Gary and Jason Chamberlain, with the assistance of Jim Barbour from Graham Architectural Products, have been working with the building owners to determine a system that is not only sensitive to the historic value of this building, but also meets the high standards of a modern office tower.

The Moroun family owns the building and announced last year it would install an elevator in the building, needed to complete the window work.

"After much analysis, the best access solution was determined to be a modern, high-speed elevator," the Chamberlains said in a media release. "Adapting the 100-year old structure to suit modern elevator equipment was, in itself, a considerable challenge. However, work on the elevator has been ongoing, and is expected to be completed shortly,"

Work in preparing the openings for the new window system has already started, and will continue over the next few months as the replacement windows are fabricated.

"Although much work has already been completed, and will continue, it will still be a few more months before the finish product will be seen by admirers of this building," the Chamberlains' media release said in part.