Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Detroit Branch Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Detroit Branch Building |
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The original 1927 building is in the foreground, with the annex to the right
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| Location | 160 West Fort Street Detroit, Michigan |
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| Built | 1927; 1951 (annex) |
| Architect | Graham, Anderson, Probst & White; Smith, Hinchman & Grylls/Minoru Yamasaki |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival, International Style |
| Part of | Detroit Financial District (ID09001067) |
| NRHP reference No. | 07001491 |
| Added to NRHP | January 29, 2008 |
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Detroit Branch Building is an important bank building in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It is located at 160 West Fort Street. This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008 because of its historical value.
Contents
History of the Building
How the Federal Reserve Started
In 1913, the United States Congress created the Federal Reserve System. This system set up twelve main banks across the country. One of these was the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Detroit was part of the Chicago region. These main banks could open smaller offices called branches. In 1917, the Chicago bank decided to open a branch in Detroit.
Opening the Detroit Branch
The Detroit Branch officially opened in March 1918. At first, it operated from three different local banks. However, the Detroit operations quickly grew too big for these spaces. So, in 1921, a spot was chosen for a brand new building. This spot was in the Detroit Financial District.
Building the First Bank
In 1926, Congress approved the construction of the new building. The Federal Reserve hired a famous architecture firm from Chicago, Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, to design it. Construction on the building began in 1927. The building officially opened its doors in December 1927.
Adding More Space: The Annex
By the early 1940s, the Detroit branch had once again outgrown its building. In 1945, the Federal Reserve bought the empty lots next to the building. They hired another firm, Smith, Hinchman & Grylls, to design an addition, called an annex. The main designer for this project was Minoru Yamasaki.
Construction on the annex started in 1949. By 1951, an eight-story annex made of glass and marble was finished. This new part of the building looked very modern and different from the original. After the annex was done, the old building was completely updated inside. The entire complex opened together in 1953.
New Owners and Uses
In 2004, the Federal Reserve Bank moved to a new location. This left the Fort Street building empty. A developer bought the building, planning to turn it into apartments. However, Dan Gilbert purchased the building on January 30, 2012.
In February 2014, the Detroit Media Partnership announced a big move. This partnership owns the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News newspapers. All three organizations decided to move into six floors of both the old and new parts of the building. They even planned to put signs on the outside, like their old headquarters. The big move happened from October 24 to 27, 2014.
What the Building Looks Like
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Detroit Branch Building is actually two main parts. There's the original 1927 building and the 1951 annex.
The Original 1927 Building
The first building, built in 1927, is three and a half stories tall. It is covered in white marble and designed in a style called Classical Revival. This style often uses elements from ancient Greek and Roman buildings. The building has a black marble base about four feet high.
The first floor windows are multi-paned, meaning they have many small glass sections. The second and third floor windows used to have two panes, but now they have one large pane of glass. The original main entrance was removed when the annex was built in 1951.
The Modern 1951 Annex
The 1951 annex is eight stories tall and designed in the International Style. This style is known for its clean lines and use of glass and steel. The annex is set back about 30 feet from the front of the original building. There's a small raised plaza in front of the annex.
The outside walls of the annex are made of stainless steel grids. From these grids, thin marble slabs are hung. The ground floor has seven sections separated by marble columns. The white marble used for the annex was carefully chosen to match the color of the original building. The glass was tinted green to help reduce sun glare. The floors of both buildings are aligned, making it easy to move between them inside.
See also
In Spanish: Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Detroit Branch Building para niños
