Meet Me by the Fountain: An Inside History of the Mall

Meet Me by the Fountain: An Inside History of the Mall

Book Talk and In-Person Conversations about Michigan's Northland Center

Admission is free. Registration required.

Join the Michigan Chapter of Docomomo US, the Southfield Public Library and the Southfield Historical Society to explore the history and future of shopping malls across the nation, with a focus on Michigan’s iconic Northland Center in Southfield.

The in-person event begins with a recorded talk by architecture critic, Alexandra Lange, author of the newly-released book, Meet Me by the Fountain: An Inside History of the Mall. Following the talk, Lange will join us on zoom for a conversation in the library, featuring two short, in-person presentations by Megan McAdow, Director of the Marshall Fredericks Museum, and Bruce Kopytek, AIA NCARB, author of Hudson's: Detroit's World-Famous Department Store and Chief Architect at Contour Companies.  McAdow will discuss the role that art played in Michigan's malls, with a focus on the Fredericks Boy and Bear sculpture located in the library's lobby. Kopytek will discuss Contour Companies' multi-faceted project to redevelop the Northland site, which features the adaptive re-use of the original J.L. Hudson's building and other historic structures and signature elements. 

Books will be available for sale at the event courtesy of Book Beat, an independent bookstore located in Oak Park, MI.

Refreshments and book sales start at 5:30. Presentations begin at 6pm.
For more information, contact Deborah Lubera Kawsky at docomomo.mi@gmail.com.