Michigan Central to Open 17,000-Sq-Ft Workspace Supporting Businesses

The new "Mezz" innovation lab at the iconic Detroit landmark will host a Black Tech Saturdays cohort.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Michigan Central Station in Detroit is expanding its partnership with an initiative aimed at helping Black entrepreneurs by opening a new 17,000-square-foot innovation lab called the "Mezz." The space will offer members access to private conference rooms, open meeting areas, a kitchen, and a wellness center, and will be the new home for the Black Tech Saturdays cohort of 20 founders, artists, and builders.

Why it matters

The opening of the Mezz innovation lab at Michigan Central Station represents an important expansion of efforts to support underrepresented communities in the tech industry, providing Black entrepreneurs and creators with access to resources and a prestigious location to grow their businesses.

The details

The Mezz innovation lab will be located on the second floor of Michigan Central Station and is expected to open in April 2026. It will offer a variety of workspaces and amenities for members, including private conference rooms, open meeting areas, a kitchen, and a wellness center. The Black Tech Saturdays cohort, a group of 20 founders, artists, and builders, will be among the first to utilize the new space.

  • Michigan Central Station announced plans for the Mezz in February 2026.
  • Construction of the Mezz innovation lab is currently underway.
  • The Mezz is expected to open in April 2026.

The players

Johnnie Turnage

Co-founder of the Black Tech Saturdays initiative, which is aimed at supporting underrepresented communities in tech.

Alexa Turnage

Co-founder of the Black Tech Saturdays initiative, which is aimed at supporting underrepresented communities in tech.

Clare Braun

Director of Strategy & Innovation at Michigan Central Station.

Michigan Central Station

An iconic Detroit landmark that is expanding its partnership with the Black Tech Saturdays initiative by opening the new Mezz innovation lab.

Black Tech Saturdays

An initiative aimed at supporting underrepresented communities in the tech industry, which will be among the first to utilize the new Mezz innovation lab at Michigan Central Station.

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What they’re saying

“We have grown from, really, five people huddling for warmth and coffee shops and conference rooms to today, we've had just over 30,000 people come out to our meetups, networking.”

— Johnnie Turnage, Co-founder, Black Tech Saturdays (cbsnews.com)

“It's really fun, because when Ford first bought the building in 2018, I think this is what we always hoped, is there'd be so much growth that we need to build out more spaces. So that time has finally come.”

— Clare Braun, Director of Strategy & Innovation, Michigan Central Station (cbsnews.com)

“It's like 20 founders, kind of artists, creators and builders across various stages, and give them six months of intentional effectiveness, where we're checking on them, bringing them off to the workshops, and we're measuring how they grow, with the goal of finding the next leaders.”

— Johnnie Turnage, Co-founder, Black Tech Saturdays (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The Mezz innovation lab at Michigan Central Station is expected to open in April 2026, and the Black Tech Saturdays cohort will be among the first to utilize the new space.

The takeaway

The opening of the Mezz innovation lab at the iconic Michigan Central Station represents a significant expansion of efforts to support Black entrepreneurs and underrepresented communities in the tech industry, providing access to resources and a prestigious location to help grow their businesses.