The G.A.R. Building Detroit

The Grand Army of the Republic

BAD BOYS

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DSC_7143While Detroit’s castle is currently swarming with workers making the G.A.R. ready for a fall move-in, for a few days last year the building saw an entirely different use.

This past March, the Detroit Pistons celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the (in)famous team roster known as the “Bad Boys”. To help mark the occasion, NBA Entertainment created a documentary with footage and interviews of many of the original Pistons players.DSC_7193The NY based NBA crew chose the Grand Army building as a location to shoot those interviews. If you happen to catch the documentary “Bad Boys” check out the backgrounds. You might notice the exposed brick, distinctive balcony and restored windows.DSC_7199It’s only fitting the NBA would shoot this one at Detroit’s G.A.R., after all, perhaps Detroit’s veterans of the Civil War were the ORIGINAL “bad boys”, eh?

Check out the trailer and air schedule hereDSC_7164

(Pictured: “Bad Boy” James Edwards and Pistons Trainer Mike Abdenour)

Photos by Mindfield’s Lindsey Yeo

Author: G.A.R. Building

The G.A.R. building was purchased by the media production firm Mindfield from the City of Detroit in November, 2011. Mindfield has started renovating the G.A.R., with opening slated for November 2014. Mindfield plans to occupy the top two floors itself, lease the ground floor for 2 restaurants, and dedicate a memorial to Civil War Veterans. The G.A.R. Building was designed by architect Julian Hess, and constructed at 1942 West Grand River and Cass as an appropriate structure for meetings and other G.A.R. related activities. The original construction cost was split between the Grand Army of the Republic (who paid $6000 of the cost) and the city of Detroit (who paid the remainder of the $44,000 total cost). Construction commenced in 1897 on the five-story building.

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