Building Information
Street Address: 615 GriswoldYear Built: 1909
Architect: Daniel Burnham
Style: Neo-Classical, Neo-Renaissance
Area: Downtown
History
When it was built in 1909, the Ford Building was the tallest skyscraper in Detroit until 1913. Unlike Burnham’s previous buildings, it was constructed with a steel frame instead of thick masonry. The exterior was clad in white terra cotta that was crisply detailed to emphasize it’s height. The column analogy, which was common for the time period, is clearly defined and the Ford Building remains one of Detroit’s oldest surviving skyscrapers.
