Eye candy of the week

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Property: Marshall Street Armory, 330 Marshall Street, Lansing

Built in 1924, this building originally served as the headquarters for training the 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery. It accounts for one of the five armories designed by Ann Arbor architect Lynn W. Fry, who had coincidently served as an artilleryman in World War I.

The Armory’s solid materials emphasize its martial purpose, primarily employing brick and limestone. Paired windows are flanked by thick brick and stone buttresses on all elevations. The main portion of the building features stone arches over the upper level windows. A crenellated parapet and stone coping cap the entire composition.

In 2008, the building was decommissioned and it remained unoccupied until completion of its 2011 rehabilitation. Then, the character-defining South entrance was redesigned with details that employ the building’s primary materials in a new ramp and stair that allow for universal access.

Although the rehabilitation required significant modifications to the building’s interior features, its historic details were preserved and are highlighted in the final construction. The removal of the gymnasium’s former tin ceiling revealed dark green painted steel trusses. Impressive red stable doors now serve as the entrance for the facility. The safe room that formerly housed live ammunition serves as a shared training room.

­— Daniel E. Bollman, AIA

“Eye candy of the Week” is our weekly look at some of the nicer properties in Lansing. It rotates each with Eyesore of the Week. If you have a suggestion, please e-mail eye@lansingcitypulse.com or call Belinda Thurston at 999-5065.

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