Chrysler House Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Chrysler House

Alternative names	Griswold Place Dime Savings Bank Building Commonwealth Building
General information
Type	Commercial offices
Location	719 Griswold Street Detroit, Michigan
Coordinates	42°19′52″N 83°02′54″W / 42.331063°N 83.04832°W / 42.331063; -83.04832
Completed	1912
Renovated	2002
Height
Roof	99 m (325 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	23
Design and construction
Architect	Daniel Burnham
Renovating team
Architect	Barton Malow


Chrysler House
U.S. Historic district Contributing property

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Architectural style	Neo-Classical
Part of	Detroit Financial District (ID09001067)
Designated CP	December 14, 2009

The Chrysler House is a tall, 23-story skyscraper in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. It stands 99 m (325 ft) (about 325 feet) high. You can find it at 719 Griswold Street, right next to the famous Penobscot Building. This building is used for offices and has shops on the ground floor. It is an important part of Detroit's Financial District.

History of Chrysler House
Architecture and Design
- A Classic Look
- Unique Features
Gallery
See also

History of Chrysler House

Building a Landmark

The Chrysler House was built between 1910 and 1912. When it first opened, it was called the Dime Savings Bank Building. This was because the Dime Savings Bank was its main tenant. Over the years, the building changed its name a few times. It was known as the Commonwealth Building and briefly as Griswold Place.

Famous Connections

From 1913 to 1928, a very important group had their office here. The Lincoln Highway Association used office 2115 on the 21st floor. This group helped create the Lincoln Highway, one of America's first cross-country roads.

Later, the building was home to the headquarters of the Bank of the Commonwealth. This lasted until 1983, when the bank joined with Comerica.

Modern Changes

In 2002, the building got a big makeover. About $40 million was spent to update it. In 2011, a businessman named Dan Gilbert bought the building. He also bought other nearby buildings like The Qube and the First National Building.

On April 30, 2012, the building got its current name. Dan Gilbert and Chrysler Group LLC chairman Sergio Marchionne announced that Chrysler would move some offices here. About 70 Chrysler employees now work on the top two floors. Because of this, the building was renamed Chrysler House.

Architecture and Design

A Classic Look

The Chrysler House was designed by a famous architect named Daniel Burnham. He created it in the Neoclassical style. This style often uses grand, classic designs inspired by ancient Greek and Roman buildings.

The building has a strong steel frame. Its outside is covered with white glazed brick and terra cotta decorations.

Unique Features

One special part of the building is its central light court. This open space starts on the third floor. It makes the upper office floors shaped like a "U". This design helps bring more natural light into the offices. Daniel Burnham used a similar idea in an earlier building he designed in Pennsylvania.

Over time, some parts of the building's outside have changed. The bottom two floors were updated with gray granite. Some original decorations, like a triangular shape above the main entrance, were removed.