The War Memorial Announces Multimillion-dollar Project

The War Memorial in partnership with the Alger family forges ahead with construction of new state-of-the-art facility for its waterfront campus. The 25,000 square feet of physical space will feature an inspirational and contemporary building design to encompass the proud legacy of the ancestral home of the Alger family. Features will include newly designed grounds and garden, waterside park, and art installation. Once finalized, the newly designed facility will fundamentally reshape the future of lakefront development across the Metro-Detroit region. The opening is planned for Spring 2022.

The War Memorial originally broke ground in late 2020 and is courageously moving forward with its bold vision to create a contemporary gathering space while honoring the spirit of the original Alger home. This project also intends to affirm The War Memorial’s future as a center for world-class arts and culture, venue for important conversations on public issues, community bridge-building, and a destination for more reflective and inclusive patriotism.

Leadership gifts, championed by the Alger family, and funding from campaign efforts support the total project cost of $23 million, which are inclusive of the new facility, grounds and garden, waterside park, and art installation. This strong financial sustainable support has propelled this project forward, signaling to the community a promise of better times to come.

The new facility design has been conceptualized by Detroit-based architectural firm ROSSETTI. Renovations will provide a new main entranceway, reflection room, new community room, remodeled ballroom (featuring a lakeside terrace), and a waterside park. Execution and scope of the construction are being overseen by Rochester-based firm Frank Rewold & Sons. The War Memorial’s construction representative, Wesley Lawrence, will be responsible for project oversite.

The original 1910 home, designed by Charles A. Platt, was once the mainstay for Russell Alger, Jr., his wife Marion, and their three children. Alger House was donated to the community in 1949 as a community center and war memorial. Working in tandem with the family, The War Memorial will enhance upon the original goal of providing access to arts, culture, and humanities on both the regional and national stage.

“Our continued and promising partnership with the Alger family allows our team to articulate on the ideals set forth over seventy years ago: creating a gathering space built on stewardship and innovation,” said Charles Burke, president and CEO of The War Memorial. “Building upon our sense of curiosity, as well as the ethos of the family, we remain committed to honoring the family home, cultivating a diverse program of arts and cultural events, and moving forward into an audacious future.”

The familiar partnership intends to ensure the longevity of both the Alger name and the cultural and patriotic programming of The War Memorial.

To learn more, visit https://www.warmemorial.org/future