Hudson Detroit Development

Managing safety on a site of this magnitude presented immense logistical hurdles. With over 350 trade professionals logging more than 2.6 million hours, the Barton Malow team faced the difficulty of coordinating emergency procedures across 60 floors and a multi-level basement.

Traditional safety methods, such as air horns, were deemed insufficient for a high-rise environment where noise, height, and limited visibility are constant. The primary challenge was ensuring that every worker could be notified of an evacuation simultaneously and that safety leaders could pinpoint the exact location of an incident in real-time.

Barton Malow implemented Ramtech’s WES wireless evacuation system, integrated with the REACT emergency notification platform. This wireless solution provided a flexible, scalable alternative to fixed infrastructure, allowing the safety network to “grow” alongside the building. The system utilised clear audible alarms and visual strobes to cut through construction noise, empowering workers to trigger alerts for fire, evacuation, or medical emergencies instantly.

The system’s value was proven during a critical medical incident when a worker fell from a ladder in the basement. An alert was raised immediately via the WES system, allowing the safety team to locate the individual and coordinate a hospital transfer within just 20 minutes. Furthermore, during site-wide drills, the system enabled the successful evacuation of 350+ workers from over 40 floors in approximately 15 minutes—a feat that would have been impossible with manual alerting methods.

As the Tower nears completion in 2027, Hudson’s Detroit serves as a blueprint for safety leadership in urban construction. By embedding adaptive safety technology into the project’s delivery from day one, Barton Malow demonstrated that scale and complexity do not have to compromise worker protection. The project proves that effective safety planning is about anticipating real-world conditions rather than simply meeting minimum regulatory requirements.

The success of the Hudson’s Detroit project serves as a powerful reminder that as buildings grow taller and more complex, our approach to life safety must evolve in tandem. By moving away from static traditional methods and embracing adaptive wireless technology, Barton Malow did more than just secure a site; they established a new standard for the Detroit skyline.

This project proves that when safety is treated as a core component of the delivery strategy, rather than a checkbox exercise, it creates a culture of confidence that protects both the timeline and, most importantly, the people on the tools. As the industry looks toward increasingly ambitious urban developments, the lessons learned at Hudson’s Detroit will undoubtedly provide the framework for a safer and more responsive future in global construction.