Favorite Detroit Buildings | Detroit Architecture

It’s no secret Detroit architecture is among the most stunning in the country. Detroit has even been compared to Paris for its great beauty. The “Paris of the West” was its nickname thanks to its architecture and grand avenues. In December 2015, Detroit was named to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a City of Design. It is the first and only American city to be designated as a City of Design. Here are a few images of my favorite Detroit buildings, including a brief history of each.

1 – General Motor’s Renaissance Center

In 1971, civic leaders in Detroit announced plans for an ambitious project that would transform Detroit’s skyline. In addition, it would hopefully set the city on the road to renaissance in the aftermath of the turbulent 1960s.  Construction began in 1973, with the first tower opening on July 1, 1976.  Architect John Portman designed a 73-story hotel, flanked by four 39-story office towers.  At the time the RenCen opened in 1977, the hotel tower was the tallest hotel in the world. (source)

2 – Fox Theatre

Detroit’s Fox Theatre was originally billed as “the most magnificent Temple of Amusement in the World.” Ever since its opening night in 1928, audiences have been awed by the venue’s grandeur and colossal expanses. The imposing ten story structure was was designed by C. Howard Crane and was built as part of the theater empire of film mogul William Fox. He owned hundreds of movie houses nationwide – many named “Fox” – but the Fox in Detroit was the grandest of them all. The original “house staff” of doormen, ushers, designers and matrons numbered more than 400. (source)

3 – The Book Tower

The Book Tower was built on the corner of Washington Boulevard and Grand River Avenue, adjacent to the existing Book Building. Construction began in 1923 and ended in 1926. It was the tallest building in Detroit at the time of its completion but was overtaken just two years later by the Penobscot Building. The Book brothers had plans to build an additional eighty-one story tower to regain the title of the tallest building in Detroit. However only two stories were completed, and the remaining plans were scrapped due to the Great Depression. (source)

4 – Ambassador Bridge

The McClintic-Marshall Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – that would later build the Golden Gate Bridge – was chosen for the project. Construction began in May of 1927 and was completed in 1929, months ahead of schedule. Composed of Art Deco and Gothic styling, the bridge’s total length is 7,490 feet.

The Ambassador Bridge remains the largest international suspension bridge in the world. On average, more than 10,000 vehicles traverse the bridge every weekday. It is one of North America’s busiest international border crossings in terms of both traffic and trade volume. Approximately one quarter of all trade between the U.S. and Canada passes through this border crossing. (source)

Check out more images of Detroit by reading my article Winter Chill | Christmas in Detroit.

5 – American Coney Island

The American Coney Island is one of the oldest businesses in the downtown area that is family-owned and operated. The restaurant has remained at the same location for 97 years. (source)

To learn more about photographing at night, read my article Reasons to Start Shooting Night Photography | Nightscapes.

6 – Fisher Building

The Fisher — built by the Fisher brothers of “Body by Fisher” fame — opened in September 1928, at Second Avenue and Grand Boulevard. Once known as the Cathedral to Commerce, the 441-foot tower is decked to the nines in fancy marbles, mosaics, painted ceilings and a whole lot of brass and bronze. 

The Fishers commissioned Albert Kahn in 1927 and essentially told him to go wild. Simply put, the Detroit News wrote in 2001, the brothers told the architect to build them “the most beautiful building in the world” and that quality would not be sacrificed in order to save money. It was an architect’s dream project. (source)

7 – University of Michigan Law Quad

Of the Law Quadrangle group the William W. Cook Legal Research Building, pictured above, was the most striking. Although more massive in general design, it was in harmony with the other buildings of the group. The main part formed one vast paneled library 244 feet long, 44 feet wide, and 50 feet high, with seating capacity for 500. The exterior of the building was marked by four massive pentacle towers, which, with the long row of arched and tracery windows extending the length of the building, emphasized the essential Gothic spirit of the architectural scheme. At the same time, it imparted a rugged and individual beauty to the building. (source)

You can view more images of U of M’s architecture, including more from the Law Quad, by reading my article University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, Michigan.