Fisher and New Center Buildings

Infobox_nrhp | name =Fisher and New Center Buildings
nrhp_type = nhl

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caption = Albert Kahn Building (left) and Fisher Building (right) in Detroit MI. Cadillac Place is in the background.
location= Detroit, Michigan
lat_degrees = 42
lat_minutes = 22
lat_seconds = 11
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 83
long_minutes = 4
long_seconds = 39
long_direction = W
locmapin = Michigan
area =
built =1927 and 1930
architect= Albert Kahn
architecture= Chicago, Art Deco, Other
added = October 14, 1980
governing_body = Private
refnum=80001922cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

The Fisher Building and the New Center Building are two office building located adjacent to one another at 7430 2nd Avenue and 3011 W. Grand Boulevard in the New Center area of Detroit, Michigan. They share a listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

Fisher Building

The Fisher Building is a 30-story office building designed by Albert Kahn. It was built in 1928, constructed promarily of limestone, granite, and marble. It was designated a National Historic Landmark on June 29, 1989, has been nicknamed "Detroit's largest art object."Houston, Kay and Linda Culpepper (March 20, 2001). [http://info.detnews.com/redesign/history/story/historytemplate.cfm?id=32 The most beautiful building in the world] Michigan History, "The Detroit News". Retrieved on November 23, 2007.] 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. [Rebecca Mazzei (November 30, 2005). [http://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=8550 Still Standing] . "Metro Times". Retrieved on January 14, 2008.] [AIA Detroit Urban Priorities Committee, (January 10, 2006). [http://www.modeldmedia.com/features/lookinside.aspx Top 10 Detroit Interiors] ."Model D Media". Retrieved on January 14, 2008.]

New Center Building

The New Center Building was also designed by Kahn and built by the Fishers). [http://books.google.com/books?id=MJFvACrP5qwC Randall Fogelman,] "Detroit's New Center," Arcadia Publishing, 2004, ISBN:0738532711, pp. 54-56.] The ten-story building is architecturally similar to the Fisher Building, and the two are connected by an underground 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.

Significance

The Fisher Building was built in 1927-1928; the New Center Building followed in 1930-31. [http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-15481_19267_20424-54575--,00.html Fisher and New Center Buildings] from History, Arts, and Libraries at the state of Michigan.] The two buildings are the only structures built by the Fishers in the New Center; although more buildings wer planned, the Great Depression and World War II intervened.). [http://books.google.com/books?id=MJFvACrP5qwC Randall Fogelman,] "Detroit's New Center," Arcadia Publishing, 2004, ISBN:0738532711, p. 7.] 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 Landmark on June 29, 1989.

References