Wikipedia

Fisher Building

This article is about a building in Detroit. For the Fisher Building in Chicago, seeFisher Building (Chicago).

TheFisher Buildingis alandmarkskyscraperlocated at 3011 West Grand Boulevard in the heart of theNew Centerarea ofDetroit,Michigan.The ornate 30-story building, completed in 1928, is one of the major works of architectAlbert Kahn,and is designed in anArt Decostyle, faced withlimestone,granite,and several types ofmarble.The Fisher family financed the building with proceeds from the sale ofFisher BodytoGeneral Motors.It was designed to house office and retail space.[3]

Fisher Building
Fisher Building in December 2021
Fisher Building is located in Michigan
Fisher Building
Fisher Building is located in the United States
Fisher Building
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Location3011 W. Grand Blvd.
Detroit,Michigan
Coordinates42°22′9.5″N83°4′37″W/ 42.369306°N 83.07694°W/42.369306; -83.07694
Area486,991 square feet (45,242.9 m2)
ArchitectAlbert Kahn AssociateswithJoseph Nathaniel Frenchas chief architect
Architectural styleArt Deco
NRHP referenceNo.07000847
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 14, 1980[2]
Designated NHLJune 29, 1989[1]
Designated MSHSOctober 21, 1975

The building, which contains the elaborate 2,089-seat Fisher Theatre,[4][5]was designated aNational Historic Landmarkon June 29, 1989. It also houses the headquarters for theDetroit Public Schoolsand the studios of radio stationsWJR,WDVD,andWUFL.

History

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A 1930s postcard depicting the Fisher Building

Initially, architectJoseph Nathaniel FrenchofAlbert Kahn Associatesplanned for a complex of three buildings, with two 30-story structures flanking a 60-story tower. However, theGreat Depressioncaused the project to be scaled back to a single tower.[6]

The Fisher brothers located the building across from the General Motors Building (Cadillac Place), as General Motors had recently purchased theFisher BodyCompany. The two massive buildings spurred the development of a New Center for the city, a business district north of its downtown area.

The building's hipped roof was originally covered with gold leaf tiles, but duringWorld War IIthese tiles were covered in asphalt because it was feared that the reflective surface would attract enemy bombers.[3]After the war, the asphalt could not be removed from the gold tiles without harming them, so they were replaced with green tiles. Since the 1980s, these tiles have been illuminated at night with colored lights to give them a gold appearance. OnSt. Patrick's Day,the lights are changed to green and, in recent years, to celebrate theNHLplayoffs, the tower is illuminated with red lights in honor of theDetroit Red Wings.

In 1974, Tri-Star Development purchased the Fisher Building and adjoiningNew Center Buildingfor approximately$20 million.[7]

In 2001, FK Acquisition LLC, a real estate firm based in Southfield, purchased the two buildings fromTrizecHahn Corporationfor $31 million.[8]FK Acquisition LLC lost the buildings to its lender in 2015.

In 2002,Detroit Public Schools(DPS) paid the owner of the Fisher Building $24.1 million to purchase five floors to house administrative offices, citing the high cost of renovations needed at theMaccabees Building,the previous headquarters, to comply with building and safety codes.[9][10]

In July 2015, Southfield-based developer Redico LLC, in partnership withHFZ Capital Groupof New York City and Peter Cummings of The Platform, a Detroit-based development company, taking advantage of the general decline in Detroit real estate values, purchased the Fisher Building and adjacent Albert Kahn Building, plus 2,000 parking spaces in two parking structures and three surface lots in New Center for only $12.2 million at auction. Redico said the partnership plans to transform the two buildings, which are connected by an underground pedestrian concourse, into what it called a "true urban" mixed-use development, with a mix of office, retail, residential and entertainment uses. The multi-year project has a potential cost of $70 million to $80 million in addition to the purchase price. The Redico interest was purchased by Cummings and his partner in The Platform, Dietrich Knoer, in 2016.[11][12]

In 2023,Michigan State Universityacquired 79% of the owner of the Fisher Building, which means MSU owns it.[13]

Architecture

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The Fisher Building rises 30 stories with a roof height of 428 feet (130 m), a top floor height of 339 feet (103 m), and the spire reaching 444 feet (135 m). The building has 21 elevators. Albert Kahn and Associates designed the building withJoseph Nathaniel Frenchserving as chief architect.[14]French took inspiration fromEliel Saarinen's Tribune Tower designof 1922, seen in the emphasis on verticality and thestepped-backupper stories. The building is unlike any other Albert Kahn production.[15]It has been called "Detroit's largest art object".[3]

In 1929, theArchitectural League of New Yorkhonored the Fisher Building with a silver medal in architecture.[16]The opulent three-storybarrel vaultedlobby is constructed with forty different kinds of marble, decorated by Hungarian artistGéza Maróti,and is highly regarded by architects.[4][5]The sculpture on the exterior of the building was supplied by several sculptors including Maróti,Corrado Parducci,Anthony De Lorenzo andUlysses Ricci.[17]

  • Arcade and theatre entrance

Radio

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Designs called for two flagpoles atop the gilt roof. While they were installed, they were essentially unusable as a radio antenna was installed when one of the building's oldest tenants, radio stationWJR,leased space in December 1928. On-air hosts often mention that broadcasts originate "from the golden tower of the Fisher Building." This was a requirement of the station's original lease in exchange for a nominal rent.[18]Two other radio stations,WDVD-FM (the former WJR-FM) andWUFL,also have broadcast studios in the building.

In 1970, building employees discovered a storage room sealed with tape. None of the staff knew what the room contained or why it was sealed. When they located the key, they found the flags of 75 nations that apparently were created in 1928 and intended to be flown for foreign visitors.[3]

Fisher Theatre

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The building is also home to the Fisher Theatre, one of Detroit's oldest live theatre venues. The theatre, designed by the Chicago-based architectural firm of Anker S. Graven & Arthur G. Mayger, originally featured a lavishAztec-themed interior in theMayan Revival style,and once had Mexican-Indian art,bananatrees, and livemacawsthat its patrons could feed.[19]After the Depression, the theatre operated primarily as a movie house until 1961. Originally containing 3,500 seats, the interior was renovated into a 2,089-seat playhouse that allowed for more spacious seating and lobbies for patrons at a cost of $3.5 million. The decor was changed to a simple mid-century design.

TheNederlander Organizationopened the "new" Fisher Theatre on October 2, 1961 and operated it until April 2021 when it sold the venue to theAmbassador Theatre Group.[20][21]It primarily features traveling productions ofBroadwayshows and has hosted numerous out-of-town tryouts.

Pre-Broadway Engagements at the Fisher:[22][23]

Art

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Befitting the Fisher Building's history in association with art, three nationally recognized fine-art galleries have occupied space in the structure including theGertrude Kasle Galleryand London Fine Arts Group.

Tenants

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  • Detroit Public Schools
    • 4th floor: Department of State and Federal Programs (Suite 450)[24]
    • 6th floor: Office of the Secretary of the Board of Education[25]
    • 9th floor:
      • Office of Athletics[26]
      • Office of Literacy[27]
      • Multilingual-Multicultural Education in DPS (Suite 119)[28]
      • Office of Specialized Student Services (Special Education)[29]
      • Office of Innovation[30]
    • 10th floor:
      • Division of Talent (Human Resources)[31]
      • Division of Labor Relations[32]
      • Division of Technology and Information Services (Suit 1000)[33]
    • 11th floor:
      • Division of Finance[34]
      • Payroll Department[35]
      • Office of Risk Management (Suite 1100)[36]
    • 14th floor: Main Administration[37]
      • Office of the Emergency Manager[38]
      • Office of the Inspector General[39]
      • Operations Group[40]
  • Girl Scoutsof Southeastern Michigan
    • 1st Floor: Council Shop[41]
    • 5th Floor: Office[42]
  • Children's Hospital of MichiganFoundation - Suite 218[43]
  • City Bakery
    • A Detroit shop of the famous New York City-based company.[44][45]
  • The Allen Law Group, PC - Suite 2500

In 2017 The Platform LLC converted the fourth floor into rental space for arts-based groups.[46]

See also

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References

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Notes
  1. ^"Fisher Building".National Historic Landmark summary listing.National Park Service. Archived fromthe originalon October 6, 2012.RetrievedJune 27,2008.
  2. ^"National Register Information System".National Register of Historic Places.National Park Service.April 15, 2008.
  3. ^abcdHouston, Kay; Culpepper, Linda (March 20, 2001)."Michigan History: The most beautiful building in the world".The Detroit News.Archived fromthe originalon January 2, 2013.RetrievedApril 7,2010.
  4. ^abMazzei, Rebecca (November 30, 2005)."Still Standing".Metro Times.RetrievedApril 7,2010.
  5. ^abAIA Detroit Urban Priorities Committee (January 10, 2006)."Top 10 Detroit Interiors".Model D Media.RetrievedApril 7,2010.
  6. ^Gallagher, John; Rochan, Dick (October 27, 1991)."Unbuilt Detroit".Detroit Free Press Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon November 7, 2010.RetrievedSeptember 6,2010.
  7. ^"Tri-Star Purchases 2 Detroit Buildings".The New York Times.January 4, 1974.RetrievedMay 26,2011.
  8. ^Gallagher, John (June 22, 2015)."Bidding heats up as Detroit Fisher Building auction begins".Detroit Free Press.RetrievedOctober 16,2015.
  9. ^Oosting, Jonathan (September 24, 2009)."Audit: Detroit Public Schools Overpaid Millions for Real Estate After Middle-Man Markups".MLive.RetrievedNovember 7,2009.
  10. ^"Real Estate Report".Detroit Public Schools. October 7, 2011. p. iii.RetrievedJanuary 26,2018.[permanent dead link‍]
  11. ^Gallagher, John (June 25, 2015)."Local developers join HFZ in Fisher Building purchase".Detroit Free Press.RetrievedJuly 16,2015.
  12. ^Pinho, Kirk (June 25, 2015)."Redico is local partner buying Fisher, Kahn buildings for $12.2 million".Crain's Detroit Business.RetrievedJuly 16,2015.
  13. ^Reindl, JC (June 13, 2023)."MSU buys majority stake in Fisher Building in Detroit".Detroit Free Press.RetrievedJune 15,2023.
  14. ^"Joseph N. French, Fairlane Architect".Detroit Free Press.March 2, 1975. p. C16.RetrievedMarch 21,2011.In the meantime he had served as chief architect for the Fisher Building...
  15. ^Hitchcock, Henry Russell (1977).Architecture: Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries.Pelican History of Art. Vol. 215 (4 ed.). Yale University Press. pp. 483–484.ISBN0300053207.
  16. ^"The Broad Sweep of American Architecture".The New York Times.April 21, 1929. p. 139.RetrievedMay 8,2014.
  17. ^Broddie, Joan,Decoration of the Fisher Building Lobby,Master's Essay, University of Michigan, 1978 p. 19
  18. ^"The Story of WJR".News/Talk WJR. Archived fromthe originalon February 12, 2010.RetrievedMay 26,2011.
  19. ^Schneider, Andrew (August 16, 2016).Exclusive: Rare photos inside the original Fisher Theatre.Curbed Detroit.Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  20. ^Stetson, Damon (October 2, 1961)."Detroit Theatre Will Open Today".The New York Times.p. 34.RetrievedMay 26,2011.
  21. ^Chessler, Suzanne (April 15, 2021)."The Nederlander Company Sells the Fisher Theatre to U.K. Theater Group".The Detroit Jewish News.RetrievedOctober 1,2021.
  22. ^"Fisher Theatre".Broadway in Detroit. Archived fromthe originalon June 3, 2011.RetrievedMay 26,2011.
  23. ^"Fisher Theatre".Ovrtur.RetrievedJune 14,2014.
  24. ^"Department of State and Federal ProgramsArchivedJanuary 27, 2018, at theWayback Machine."Detroit Public Schools.Retrieved on November 30, 2015. "Fisher Building – 450 3011 W. Grand Boulevard Detroit, MI 48202"
  25. ^"Office of the Secretary of the BoardArchivedJanuary 27, 2018, at theWayback Machine."Detroit Public Schools.Retrieved on November 30, 2015. "Location 6th Floor, Fisher Building 3011 W. Grand Boulevard Detroit, Michigan 48202"
  26. ^"Office of AthleticsArchivedJanuary 25, 2018, at theWayback Machine."Detroit Public Schools.Retrieved on November 29, 2015. "9th Floor Fisher Building 3011 West Grand Boulevard Detroit, MI 48202"
  27. ^"Office of LiteracyArchivedNovember 25, 2017, at theWayback Machine."Detroit Public Schools.Retrieved on November 29, 2015. "Office of Literacy 9th Floor, Fisher Building 3011 West Grand Blvd. Detroit, MI 48202"
  28. ^"Multilingual-Multicultural Education in DPSArchivedJuly 1, 2017, at theWayback Machine."Detroit Public Schools.Retrieved on November 29, 2015. "9th Floor Fisher Building, Suite 119 3011 West Grand Blvd Detroit, MI 48202"
  29. ^"Office of Specialized Student Service"(Brochure). (ArchivedSeptember 6, 2015, at theWayback Machine).Detroit Public Schools.Retrieved on November 30, 2015. "Fisher Building 3031 W Grand Blvd., 9th Floor Detroit MI. 48201"
  30. ^"Office of InnovationArchivedJuly 26, 2017, at theWayback Machine."Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on November 30, 2015." DPS Office of Innovation Fisher Building, 9th Floor 7321 Second Avenue Detroit MI 48202 "
  31. ^"Division of TalentArchivedDecember 22, 2017, at theWayback Machine."Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on November 30, 2015." Fisher Building, 10th Floor 3011 W Grand Blvd Detroit, MI 48202 "
  32. ^"Division of Labor RelationsArchivedJuly 1, 2017, at theWayback Machine."Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on November 30, 2015." Fisher Building, 10th Floor 3011 W Grand Blvd Detroit, MI 48202 "
  33. ^"Division of Technology and Information ServicesArchivedJanuary 15, 2018, at theWayback Machine."Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on November 30, 2015." Fisher Building, 10th Floor, Ste. 1000 3011 W. Grand Blvd. Detroit, MI 48202 "
  34. ^"Division of FinanceArchivedJanuary 27, 2018, at theWayback Machine."Detroit Public Schools.Retrieved on November 30, 2015. "Fisher Building – 11th Floor 3011 West Grand Blvd. Detroit, MI 48202"
  35. ^"Office of PayrollArchivedJanuary 6, 2018, at theWayback Machine."Detroit Public Schools.Retrieved on November 29, 2015. "Fisher Building 11th Floor Detroit, MI 48202" and "The Office of Payroll to distribute Aline cards to employees from the Payroll Dept. on the 11th Floor of the Fisher Building."
  36. ^"Office of Risk ManagementArchivedJanuary 27, 2018, at theWayback Machine."Detroit Public Schools.Retrieved on November 29, 2015. "Fisher Building – Suite 1100 3011 W. Grand Boulevard Detroit, MI 48202"
  37. ^"Rutherford Elementary Operator"(PDF).Detroit Public Schools. March 1, 2012. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on August 11, 2014.RetrievedMay 8,2014.Fisher Building – 14th Floor; 3011 W. Grand Boulevard; Detroit, MI 48202-2710
  38. ^"Office of the Emergency ManagerArchivedJune 25, 2016, at theWayback Machine."Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on November 30, 2015." 14th Floor, Fisher Building 3011 West Grand Blvd. Detroit, MI 48202 "
  39. ^"Office of the Inspector GeneralArchivedNovember 25, 2017, at theWayback Machine."Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on November 30, 2015." Fisher Building, 14th Floor 3011 West Grand Blvd. Detroit, MI 48202 "
  40. ^"Operations GroupArchivedDecember 22, 2017, at theWayback Machine."Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on November 30, 2015." Fisher Building – 14th Floor 3011 W. Grand Blvd. Detroit, MI 48202 "
  41. ^"Locations".Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan.RetrievedNovember 30,2015."Detroit Service Center / Council Shop 3011 W. Grand Blvd. 500 Fisher Bldg. Detroit, MI 48202[...]SHOP HOURS (1st Floor):"
  42. ^"GSSEM Service Centers & Council Shops".Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan. Archived fromthe originalon 25 April 2014.Retrieved8 May2014.
  43. ^"Contact Us."Children's Hospital of MichiganFoundation. Retrieved on January 2, 2018. "Children's Hospital of Michigan Foundation 3011 West Grand Blvd Suite 218 Detroit, MI 48202"
  44. ^Nagl, Kurt (January 26, 2018)."City Bakery to open Monday in Fisher Building".Crain's Detroit Business.RetrievedJanuary 29,2018.
  45. ^Houck, Brenna (June 7, 2017)."New York Landmark City Bakery Is Expanding to Detroit".Eater.com Detroit.RetrievedJanuary 2,2018.
  46. ^Welch, Sherri (August 17, 2017)."The Platform to convert Fisher Building floor to subsidized studios for local creatives".Crain's Detroit Business.RetrievedJanuary 2,2018.
Bibliography
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