Here are some famous buildings in Detroit that exhibit many innovations and architectural designs.
These buildings are recognized by the National Register of Historic Places, a list of the nation's historic
places that gives restoration benefits to the structures listed.
These buildings are recognized by the National Register of Historic Places, a list of the nation's historic
places that gives restoration benefits to the structures listed.
Below are short descriptions and photos of several select buildings in an
effort to encompass historic examples of Detroit's architecture.
Each slide-show contains pictures taken during their construction and some more recent.
effort to encompass historic examples of Detroit's architecture.
Each slide-show contains pictures taken during their construction and some more recent.
One Woodward Avenue
Architect: Minoru Yamasaki, who has has many works in Detroit. 430 ft tall, 32 stories, and 28 floors. commissioned by MichCon(Michigan Consolidated Gas Company). opened in 1963. DESIGN: The building's base is surrounded by plant life and gardens in a public lobby. This was done to differentiate it from nearby buildings, which were mostly concrete only. The One Woodward Avenue building is the first "high-rise" in the downtown area in almost thirty years. This structure features narrow, vertical windows that were added due to the architect's acrophobia(fear of heights) as well as to enhance the "verticality" of the building. Some of the design is inspired by Gothic Roman Cathedrals. There are marble-faced columns that were created to draw a viewer's attention upward as they look at the building. Yamasaki included innovations like avoiding any exposed steel or glass, and put the boiler room on the top two floors, making room for an underground parking garage. Instead of an isolated air conditioning room, Each floor has its own air-conditioning fan room. Penobscot Building
Architect: Wirt C Rowland, one of Detroit's most prolific architects. 567 ft tall, 47 stories. currently acts as the city's wireless internet zone and fiber optic network. opened in 1928. DESIGN: The building displays Native American and "Art Deco" styles and is named after the Panawahpskek tribe. The 'H' shape was built to allow maximum sunlight through the windows. The entire building, interior and exterior, are decorated with Native American sculptures and carvings. On the very top of the Penobscot Building is a red beacon that today is only decoration but was first installed as an aviation beacon. |
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Guardian Building
Architect: Wirt C. Rowland with Smith, Hinchman & Grylls. 496 ft tall, 40 stories. commissioned by Union Trust Co. opened in 1929. DESIGN: The lower exterior of the building is made of granite and displayed carvings. The majority of the exterior is made of orange brick, terracotta and limestone. Towards the top of the building, it splits into two towers. One tower is larger than the other. Rowland took extra care in designing the interior of the Guardian Building. He oversaw and made sure that the colors and shapes of the furniture, walls and lights all followed a cohesive theme. Dining ware and waitress uniforms were designed as well. Its elegant look and feel is why the Guardian Building is known as "The Cathedral of Finance." |
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Fisher Building
Architect: Albert Kohn (Detroit born). 441 ft tall, 30 stories. Commissioned by The Fisher Brothers. opened in 1928. DESIGN: This building is built almost entirely out of granite, marble and limestone. The marble was cut in such a way that different details would be revealed as the sun shone on the building. It was designed in the Art Deco style with hints of Gothic architecture. The higher stories of the Fisher Building displayed "step-back" walls, these were walls with a sort of step shaped divot that can help get sunlight to the ground levels surrounding the building. The interior was designed with a focus on American Culture. Sculptures and frescoes were chosen to reflect Detroit's and America's growing power at the time. |
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Fort Street Presbyterian Church
Architect: Albert H. Jordan. 265 ft tall. commissioned by the Second Presbyterian Congregation. opened in 1855. DESIGN: This building is one of the tallest churches in the US. With the gothic revival style of architecture in mind, the church was designed to give a "light feel to it. The lime stone it was built with was cut in a way that gives it a "lacy" feel, further emphasizings the church's "lightness". This building features flying buttresses which are arc shaped wall supports. The interior is held up by onyx columns and contains a horse shoe shaped balcony seat. The Fort Street Presbyterian Church is still standing today and is still in use. |
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Tiger Stadium
Architect: Frank C. Osborn, Kenneth Osborn. opened in 1912. closed in 1999. DESIGN: This stadium is known as the home of the Detroit Tigers. When it was first built, the stadium could hold about 26,000 people. After its 1936 expansion, it could seat around 53,000. The stadium was built with obstructed seats, a design that put the seating closer to the playing field. The Tiger Stadium was demolished ten years after closing. |
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1. http://www.historicdetroit.org/building/one-woodward-avenue/
2. http://www.historicdetroit.org/building/penobscot-building/
3. http://www.historicdetroit.org/building/guardian-building/
4. http://www.historicdetroit.org/building/fisher-building/
5. http://www.historicdetroit.org/building/fort-street-presbyterian-church/
6. http://detroit1701.org/Fort%20Street%20Presbyterian.html#.WEcRdn1GSDM
7. http://www.historicdetroit.org/building/tiger-stadium/
8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Stadium_(Detroit)
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Downtown_and_Midtown_Detroit,_Michigan
2. http://www.historicdetroit.org/building/penobscot-building/
3. http://www.historicdetroit.org/building/guardian-building/
4. http://www.historicdetroit.org/building/fisher-building/
5. http://www.historicdetroit.org/building/fort-street-presbyterian-church/
6. http://detroit1701.org/Fort%20Street%20Presbyterian.html#.WEcRdn1GSDM
7. http://www.historicdetroit.org/building/tiger-stadium/
8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Stadium_(Detroit)
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Downtown_and_Midtown_Detroit,_Michigan