Imagine being crammed inside a construction elevator with 14 other people, the machine erupting into a loud roar once it began going up the building.

Feeling like an eternity, the elevator door is finally opened, which leads to the 32nd floor. Several windows occupy the open space, offering breathtaking views of the Detroit skyline. Blue skies hang over the Detroit River, with various skyscrapers in the background.

This is what several attendees had the chance to experience Saturday afternoon during the "A Look Inside the Book Tower" tour. Hosted by Detroit Design 139, the event allowed more than 100 guests to see the historic 38-story Book Tower and the adjacent, 13-story Book Building. Bedrock is working with New York Architecture firm ODA to renovate the interior of the structure.

The event began with a presentation at the 1001 Woodward Building, hosted by members of Bedrock, ODA and Kraemer Design Group, another architecture firm working on the project.

Alex Ward, the senior project architect for ODA, said the Book Tower and building will have a mix of office, retail, hospitality and residential spaces. The first few floors will have shops and offices, followed by hotel units and then residential units from the 9th floor to the 38th floor.

"The process we have been going through with Bedrock has been very collaborative," he said. "We want to make sure the space is as open as possible for the public on the ground floor and second floor, and we want Detroiters to come in and enjoy the space. Hopefully everybody will enjoy it just as much as I have designing it."

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After the presentation, attendees donned construction hats, vests and safety glasses and headed over to the Book Tower. As the tour made a stop on the second floor, Joyce Keller and Michael Wallace explored the open space featuring exposed brick and wooden ceiling beams. This is the first time the husband and wife have seen the structure.

"It's amazing to see what they've done," said Keller, who is an employee for a Quicken Loans company. "I had seen some pictures when Bedrock first bought it, so I knew it was a disaster inside. To see them beautify the outside and seeing what's being done on the inside is really amazing."

"Just to listen to what he's (Bedrock Project Manager Kim Pierson) talking about as far as how much debris they had to remove and the steps they had to take, the remediation, the asbestos and everything, it's just amazing," added Wallace. "This is one more step in the revitalization of downtown Detroit."

At the tour's end on the 32nd floor of the tower, Ronald Jones took in the view of the city's skyline. The 64-year-old remembers when a nightclub appropriately called Bookies was in the building during the early 2000s. He said he enjoyed when Book Tower and the building was lively and full of businesses.

"I grew up in the 60s, so I saw the full life of it when it was really occupied," said Jones.

The Farmington Hills resident is ready to see the structure active once again.

"I'm excited to see the atrium and how they are going to skylight it," he said. "When you're able to drop in and say, 'Meet me at the Book Tower.'"