Tying together its bowling alley, social space and adjoining amenities maximizes the experience at this Motor City club.

The thwack of a ball knocking down pins in one fell swoop is music to any bowler’s ears. At the Detroit (Mich.) Athletic Club, this sound can be heard over the din of members toasting their strikes in the newly refurbished space, where bowlers and non-bowlers alike are congregating. DAC Executive Manager and CEO Charles Johnson says the goal of the redesign was to combine the game with a social setting for players, spectators and guests. “From a liveliness standpoint, the reorientation of having everything together, whether you’re bowling or not … it feels alive every time you walk down there,” he shares.

Sparing No Expense

A project that was years in the making, DAC’s Abbey redesign was the focus of many a discussion between the board and membership, but became a reality following the height of the pandemic. While the 108-year-old building had seen its fair share of minor updates, it hadn’t been significantly overhauled since the 1950s. Using input from two sub-committees, including bowling members and club leaders, a proposal to develop a more open floor plan that incorporated updated locker rooms, a pro shop and full-service kitchen, was put into action. Construction began in February 2022 and wrapped in time for a soft opening the following September and grand re-opening in October—just in time for bowling season.

While modernizing this part of the club was key to the redesign, DAC’s art and architecture committee took great pains to preserve as many of the historical elements as possible.

“Our curator and bowling department catalogued over 100 different items, like trophies and other items that we considered artifacts,” notes Johnson.

Woodwork behind the original bar was cleaned and re-stained, while the original frieze was recast. Another notable addition was discovered upon peeling back layers of old flooring to reveal mosaic tiling, which was a perfect fit to showcase the horseshoe-shaped bar.

With salvaged elements in mind, designers focused on marrying original pieces with contemporary, more purposeful ones.

“The intent was that if you didn’t know what the Abbey looked like before this renovation and walked down there today for the first time, you would think to some degree this is how it’s always been,” says Johnson who describes the new look as “modernly classic and timeless.”
A white ceiling balances out dark, patterned carpeting. A mishmash of seating styles, including padded chairs and counter-height tables, offer plenty of options for dining and socializing between games.

Seating in the bowling area has also been refreshed with custom padded benches that enable players to interact more easily between lanes. An upgraded scoring system improves game play, which will be further enhanced by pinsetter improvements scheduled for a later date.

In addition to the bowling updates, the enlarged 10,352-sq.-ft. space is outfitted with a more accessible pro shop, enhanced locker rooms and a dedicated kitchen. Johnson admits that the former pro shop lacked visibility (“if you didn’t know to ask or didn’t know we had it, you missed out”) and has been replaced by a more welcoming setup. The 2,217-sq.-ft. locker rooms now feature wood lockers and new stools, along with upgraded fixtures, carpeting, lighting and HVAC. Also commanding attention is a full-service kitchen, sporting a POS system for easy ordering—a vast improvement over the former commissary steam table and salad buffet.

Bowled Over

During the Abbey’s extensive renovation, the designers were challenged by adhering to a proposed timeline. Supply and labor shortages threatened to overturn the original construction schedule and potentially disrupt member services, but with minimal setbacks, the new space was unveiled on budget and on time.

Hard work and dedication have proven invaluable, with DAC reporting positive member feedback and demonstrated interest. According to Johnson, the Abbey has seen three to four times more visitors since the renovation than it had in the past 10 years. He commends the refreshed digs not only for the bowling attraction, but for the added social component.

“I’ve also heard from members that it’s a great place to have dinner as a single person … no one wants to sit in a restaurant by themselves, but the ambiance down there is very communal and social,” he says.

And with more members vying to join the club’s bowling program, DAC has surely bowled a perfect strike with the new Abbey.

“It’s just a place that people want to be and want to be part of,” adds Johnson. C+RB

Design Snapshot

Detroit Athletic Club
Detroit, Mich.

Project Management: Capo Design Group, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Architect: ROSSETTI, Detroit, Mich.
Contractor: Frank Rewold and Sons, Rochester, Mich.
Carpeting: Axminster
Custom woodwork, including display cases, wall paneling, bowling booth seating and bar