History of Karmanos Cancer Institute

The site of the current day Karmanos Cancer Institute can be traced back to 1917 when a two story building was used for retail and automotive sales and service via Ford. Later on it was used for light manufacturing. The Detroit Institute of Cancer Research was established in 1941, being the first of its kind in Michigan. The Institute started small with laboratories provided by Wayne State University, and by 1943 had formed a partnership with the American Cancer Society. The ford building at the corner of John R. St. and Hancock was purchased in 1945, however before becoming a Cancer Research building it had to be transformed, many of the elements of the original building had to removed to fit its new purpose. Factory style windows that lined the second floor of the building during its Ford years had to be removed, alongside the freight elevator and floors had to be remodeled to fit its new purpose. The remodel was designed by Robert J. West. While many of the rooms of the original build were remodeled, however much of the original exterior footprint was unable to be changed because of the reinforced concrete. In its early years as a cancer research facility it keep its original 2 story floor plan. In regards to cancer research this new building was a big step for the society. For the first time in United States history all three departments of research were housed in one building (Educational, Research, and service activities). A lecture room that housed 300 seats, alongside 8 laboratories of various studies was built into the building, at the time being equipped with the most modern medical equipment of the era. In 1973 the building was expanded after years of medical advancements, it would become the Michigan Cancer Foundation’s new headquarters. Featuring a additional 125,000 sf of space. In 1985 the center was renamed in honor of Meyer L. Prentis, a Detroit philanthropist who was the treasurer of General Motors for 32 years. He and his wife, Anna, dedicated their lives to charitable endeavors, helping to establish the United Foundation, now the United Way for Southeastern Michigan. In 1994 the Michigan Cancer Foundation, the Meyer L. Prentis Comprehensive Cancer Center of Metropolitan Detroit, and the cancer programs of Wayne State University and The Detroit Medical Center merged under a single administrative structure, creating one of the country’s largest centers of its kind. Just a year later in 1995 the center at John R. and Warren Ave. was renamed in honor of Barbara Ann Karmanos the wife of Peter Karmanos the Co founder of Detroit based software company Compuware. Peter chose Cancer Research as his philanthropy mission. Peter was later a independent director on the board of Taubman Centers, Inc. from 2000 to 2018, naming the 4th floor of the Cancer Institute in honor of Alfred Taubman the founder of the real estate group that created many malls in the Metro Detroit area and elsewhere including Lakeside Mall and Fairlane Mall. In 2005 DMC pulled out of the 1994 merger and sold there cancer research department to Karmanos for $10 million. 2010 marked the fourth consecutive year, Karmanos Cancer Center was selected as the most preferred hospital for cancer care in southeast Michigan. By 2014 Karmanos merged with a new partner under McLaren Health Care to create the largest cancer network in the state of Michigan, treating over 12,500 new cancer cases each year. Throughout the 2010s Karmanos moved their operations back to DMC with a working partnership. This new facility slowly became the new headquarters for the Karmanos. Between 2019 and 2020 the Karmanos logo was removed from the original location at John R. and Warren. As operations wrapped up and by late 2022 the center was left vacant. Today the former Karmanos headquaters remains vacant in a state of low power mode required by law (a hospital must maintain power until all patients have been safely transferred, all medical equipment is de-energized, and patient records are secured or moved). This protects Patient confidentiality required by law, and helps avoid theft or mold of equipment during a transitional phase. It is likely due to its location it will be repurposed in the near future however no plans have surfaced.