Businessman Dan Gilbert's Bedrock real estate firm has chosen a New York architecture office called ODA to transform the interior spaces of the historic Book Tower on Washington Boulevard in downtown Detroit.

Melissa Dittmer, chief design office for Bedrock, said ODA will blend historic preservation with contemporary aesthetics in the context of the ongoing evolution of Washington Boulevard.

ODA is already working on concepts, and the project could reopen in 2022, Dittmer said.

To give the public a peek at what's ahead, Bedrock will host a public tour of the Book Tower called “A Look Inside Book Tower" from 1:30-6 p.m. Saturday. For details on how to register for the tour, visit https://tinyurl.com/BookBuildingTour.

The renovation work will include both the 38-story Book Tower, built in the 1920s from a design by architect Louis Kamper, and the adjacent, older 13-story Book Building, also designed by Kamper. Bedrock is finishing a two-year exterior renovation of the structures as a prelude to the interior work.

Bedrock expects the renovated Book complex to feature a mix of residential units, retail, galleries and other commercial space. Dittmer said ODA was selected after a review of multiple firms.

"This is a special project," Dittmer said. "Because of the historical nuances, because of the emotional attachment to this building, and because of the sensitivity going forward to Washington Boulevard, we felt that ODA was right."

She added, "While they’re a young firm, they had the best portfolio of similar types of projects and also the best internal processes that we felt was right for this type of project."

As with its other projects downtown, Dittmer said Bedrock is looking for "architecture as urban catalyst," something that will enliven the district beyond the building itself.

In a bid to enhance downtown's pedestrian experience, ODA’s plans include retail, galleries, restaurants and a cafe with open sight lines to Washington Boulevard and Grand River Avenue.

While nearby Woodward Avenue has seen numerous projects completed in recent years, Washington Boulevard's comeback remains in early stages.

Washington Boulevard was once a thriving center of retail for downtown Detroit, but suffered significant closures during Detroit's decades of decline. With a variety of projects completed or underway in the vicinity, Washington looks to once again become a prominent destination.

"Washington Boulevard is starting to come together," Dittmer said. "It’ll be fun to watch how Washington Boulevard transforms over the next five years."

Bedrock bought the 486,760-square-foot structure in 2015 after it had sat empty for several years. Its exterior renovation included the replacement of 2,483 historically accurate windows and restoration of the decorative cornice complete with caryatid statues.

More:Historic Farwell Building in Detroit reopens after 30 years of vacancy

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Also, a historic art glass skylight will be brought back to its original look as part of Bedrock’s work with ODA.

ODA was founded just in 2007, but it has already established a reputation for innovative work in New York and Europe.

“The objective is to add a forward-looking mixed-use program to Detroit’s growing downtown that will meet the needs of businesses, visitors and residents alike," Eran Chen, founding principal of ODA, said in a statement released by Bedrock.

“Restoring, designing and engineering the conversion of a legacy structure requires the utmost reverence for the remarkable history of the Book Tower, but also the vision and ambition to deliver a civic hub that complements the movement happening in Downtown Detroit."

Contact John Gallagher at313-222-5173 or gallagher@freepress.com.Follow him on Twitter@jgallagherfreep. Read more on business and sign up for our business newsletter.