Work begins on 200 E Hudson in downtown Royal Oak

The second of two industrial-into-office-space rehabs has begun on the south side of downtown Royal Oak.

Now that work is wrapping up on 120 E Hudson, the developer behind that innovative renovation, Jim Johnson, is turning his attention to 200 E Hudson.

"They have dug the foundation and the steel contractor has been out to measure the steel supports for the roof," says Jim Schneider, president of Royal Oak-based Schneider + Smith Architects, which designed the project.

The buildings used to be one large, single-story industrial site. The machine shop dated back to the dawn of the 20th Century automotive boom, adding more and more space as the industry grew. It became obsolete as the industry contracted, and is now a prime candidate for edgy, loft-style office space in the center of town. Johnson split the building in half to make it more office friendly, creating 120 and 200 E Hudson.

Several other similar structures on the edge of downtown between B&B Collision and the railroad tracks have gone through similar transformations. 120 E Hudson went from a 7,000-square-foot down-and-dirty industrial building to chic, ultra-modern office space clad in brick, concrete, aluminum and glass for about 25 advertising office workers.

200 E Hudson is set to undergo a similar transformation. However, a tenant hasn't been found yet, so construction will probably take a little longer.

Source: Jim Schneider, president of Schnieder+Smith Architects
Writer: Jon Zemke
Enjoy this story? Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.