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Detroit has a good number of beautiful historic skyscrapers in the downtown area. Most of the buildings I admired are located in the area between Campus Martius and Hart Plaza. This entry does not include the Guardian Building or GM Renaissance Center, and I’m sure I’ve missed plenty of others.
Cadillac Tower
First, right on Cadillac Square is Cadillac Tower. Built in 1927 as Barlum Tower, it was the first building outside of New York or Chicago to have 40 floors.
Across the street are the New Cadillac Square Apartments, which were also finished in 1927. The building contains 224 units as well as a restaurant.
First National Building
On the southeast corner of Campus Martius and the south end of Cadillac Square is the First National Building. This massive Z-shaped building was designed by Albert Kahn to allow most offices to receive natural light and ventilation. It was built between 1921 and 1930 and stands 26 stories high. In front, along Woodward Avenue, is the smaller Vinton Building, also designed by Kahn and finished in 1917.
Ally Detroit Center
Just south of the Vinton Building along Woodward is Ally Detroit Center, which is the second tallest building in the state of Michigan. It’s 43 stories high and was built between 1991 and 1993 by architects John Burgee and Philip Johnson. The original name was One Detroit Center.
Mural
Across the street is an ugly glass building sitting next to the Guardian Building. It’s not noteworthy other than an interesting mural featuring symbols of Detroit.
One Woodward
Just south of the Guardian Building is One Woodward Avenue, formerly known as the Michigan Consolidated Gas Company Building. It was built in 1962 and was the first skyscraper designed by Minoru Yamasaki. Yamasaki based the World Trade Center in New York on this design.
Buhl Building
Walking back up Griswold Street is the Buhl Building. It was designed by Wirt C. Rowland and completed in 1925. It has 29 floors and an architectural sculpture at the entrance designed by Corrado Parducci.
Ford Building
Across the street to the north is the Ford Building, built between 1907 and 1908 and designed by Daniel Burnham. At 19 stories above ground, it was the tallest building in Detroit from 1908 to 1913.
Penobscot Building
Next door is the Penobscot Building, a tower rising 47 stories high and designed by Wirt C. Rowland. It was completed in 1928 and held the title of the tallest building in Michigan from its completion until 1977 when the Renaissance Center hotel tower took the crown. Like the Buhl Building and Guardian Building, it also contains architectural sculptures by Corrado Parducci.
Westin Book Cadillac Hotel
West of Campus Martius along Michigan Avenue is the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel. It was completed in 1924 by architect Louis Kamper. At 31 floors, it was the tallest hotel in the world when it opened. The hotel has changed hands many times, and has reduced the room count from 1,136 at opening to 455 today, plus 67 condo units.
It plays a role in baseball history as well. On May 2, 1939, New York Yankees legend Lou Gehrig collapsed on the grand staircase of the hotel. Gehrig later met with manager Joe McCarthy in the lobby and asked him to leave him out of the starting lineup for the game against the Detroit Tigers, thus ending Gehrig’s 2,130 consecutive games streak.
More Murals
Finally, across Washington Boulevard is a building featuring some excellent murals along the ground floor.
