The campaign had raised more than $30 million as of 2019. Brown declined to share the amount raised as part of the campaign so far, in advance of a campaign update planned later this fall. MOT is funding the first phase of capital projects at the opera house as part of a $50 million campaign launched in 2015. New seating and updates to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning located under the seating are also planned as part of the first phase of work set to be completed over the next three years, all aimed at increasing accessibility, Brown said. 'Our ultimate goal is to create barrier-free facility, and this is the first step along the way,' he said. Two new elevators in the tower are expected to begin operating a year from now, President and CEO Wayne Brown told Crain's, providing increased accessibility to all levels of the opera house and the Skydeck event space on the rooftop. is serving as general contractor and Colasanti Construction Services Inc.

The final steel beam on the elevator tower, designed by Detroit-based Albert Kahn Associates, was set to be put in place Monday.

The elevator tower and addition of accessible restrooms on the main floor of the opera house are among the first-phase projects included in a larger master plan for the venue, which will celebrate its centennial in 2022. When opera enthusiasts return to the Detroit Opera House next spring, they'll find new features and updates aimed at increasing accessibility to the historic venue in downtown Detroit, including a new seven-story elevator tower visible to passersby.

Detroit opera house schedule 2021