National Historic Landmark

Fisher and New Center Buildings

Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
Listed
October 13, 1980
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
80001922

About this property

The Fisher Building and the New Center Building are two office buildings located adjacent to one another at 7430 2nd Avenue and 3011 West Grand Boulevard in the New Center area of Detroit, Michigan. They share a 1980 listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The Fisher Building is a 30-story office building designed by Albert Kahn. It was built in 1928, constructed primarily of limestone, granite, and marble. It was designated a National Historic Landmark on June 29, 1989, has been nicknamed Detroit's largest art object. The building was to house the automotive company Fisher Body of the Fisher brothers (Frederick, Charles, William, Lawrence, Edward, Alfred and Howard), and is widely considered Kahn's greatest achievement. The year of its construction, the Fisher building was honored by the Architectural League of New York as the year's most beautiful commercial structure. The opulent three-story barrel vaulted lobby is constructed with 40 different kinds of marble, decorated by Hungarian artist Géza Maróti, and is highly regarded by architects. The New Center Building was also designed by Kahn and built by the Fisher brothers. The ten-story building is architecturally similar to the Fisher Building, and the two are connected by a tunnel. The building was originally designed to house office and retail space, but as of 2004 houses only offices, including those of Albert Kahn and Associates. The building was renamed the Albert Kahn Building in 1988. The Fisher Building was built in 1927–1928; the New Center Building followed in 1930–31. The two buildings are the only structures built by the Fishers in the New Center; although more buildings were planned, the Great Depression and World War II intervened. However, the Fisher and New Center Buildings as a pair are an architecturally significant complex demonstrating some of the finest craftsmanship and artistry in Art Deco style buildings. The two buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1980; the Fisher Building was designated a National Historic Landmark on June 29, 1989.

Location

7430 2nd Ave. and 3011 W. Grand Blvd.
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
42.36973, -83.07739

Categories

INDUSTRYCOMMERCEARTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Fisher Building
Industrial
0 mi
WJBK-TV Studios Building
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0.1 mi
General Motors Building
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General Motors Research Laboratory
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0.2 mi
Metropolitan United Methodist Church
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0.4 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Bloody Run (Pontiac's War)
1763Colonial
1.9 mi
Pontiac's War – Battle of Bloody Run July 31 1763
1763Colonial
2 mi
Battle of Bloody Run (Pontiac's War, 1763)
1763Colonial
2.1 mi
Pontiac's War — Battle of Bloody Run
1763Colonial
2.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Fisher and New Center Buildings listed on the National Register?

Fisher and New Center Buildings was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 13, 1980.

What type of historic resource is Fisher and New Center Buildings?

Fisher and New Center Buildings is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Fisher and New Center Buildings a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Fisher and New Center Buildings has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Fisher and New Center Buildings?

The period of significance for Fisher and New Center Buildings is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Fisher and New Center Buildings?

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