Fisher Building facts for kids
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Fisher Building
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Fisher Building in December 2021
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3011 W. Grand Blvd. Detroit, Michigan |
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| Area | 486,991 square feet (45,242.9 m2) |
| Architect | Albert Kahn Associates with Joseph Nathaniel French as chief architect |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 07000847 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 14, 1980 |
| Designated NHL | June 29, 1989 |
The Fisher Building is a famous skyscraper in Detroit, Michigan. It is located in the New Center area. This beautiful 30-story building was finished in 1928. It was designed by the well-known architect Albert Kahn. The building shows off the Art Deco style. It is covered with limestone, granite, and different types of marble.
The Fisher family paid for the building. They used money from selling their company, Fisher Body, to General Motors. The building was made for offices and shops. It also has the amazing 2,089-seat Fisher Theatre inside. The Fisher Building was named a National Historic Landmark in 1989. It is also home to the main offices for the Detroit Public Schools. Plus, radio stations like WJR, WDVD, and WUFL have their studios there.
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History of the Fisher Building
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The first plan for the Fisher Building was much bigger. Architect Joseph Nathaniel French wanted to build three structures. This included two 30-story buildings and a huge 60-story tower. But the Great Depression happened. This economic downturn meant the plans had to be made smaller. So, only one tower was built.
The Fisher brothers chose to build it across from the General Motors Building. General Motors had just bought their company, Fisher Body. These two large buildings helped create a new business area for Detroit. This area was north of the main downtown.
The building's roof used to have gold leaf tiles. These shiny tiles were covered with asphalt during World War II. People worried that the bright surface might attract enemy bombers. After the war, the asphalt could not be removed without damaging the gold tiles. So, they were replaced with green tiles. Since the 1980s, these green tiles have been lit up at night. The lights make them look gold again. On St. Patrick's Day, the lights turn green. For the NHL playoffs, the tower is lit with red lights. This is to support the Detroit Red Wings.
Over the years, the building has had several owners. In 2015, new owners bought the Fisher Building. They also bought the nearby Albert Kahn Building. Their plan was to turn the buildings into a "true urban" space. This would include offices, shops, homes, and entertainment. In 2023, Michigan State University became the main owner of the Fisher Building.
Design and Architecture
The Fisher Building stands 30 stories tall. Its roof reaches about 428 feet (130 meters) high. The very top of its spire goes up to 444 feet (135 meters). The building has 21 elevators. Albert Kahn and Associates designed the building. Joseph Nathaniel French was the main architect. French was inspired by another architect's design from 1922. This can be seen in the building's tall, vertical lines. It also has stepped-back upper levels. Many people call the Fisher Building "Detroit's largest art object."
In 1929, the Architectural League of New York gave the Fisher Building an award. They honored it with a silver medal for its architecture. The building has a grand, three-story lobby. This lobby is made with forty different kinds of marble. Hungarian artist Géza Maróti decorated it. Architects think this lobby is very special. Many sculptors worked on the outside of the building. These included Maróti, Corrado Parducci, and Ulysses Ricci.
Radio Stations in the Building
The original plans for the Fisher Building included two flagpoles on its golden roof. These were put in place. However, they were not used much. A radio antenna was installed instead. This happened when one of the building's oldest tenants, radio station WJR, moved in during December 1928. Radio hosts often say their shows come "from the golden tower of the Fisher Building." This was part of their first lease agreement. Two other radio stations, WDVD-FM and WUFL, also have studios in the building.
In 1970, workers found a storage room that was sealed shut. No one knew what was inside. When they opened it, they found flags from 75 nations. These flags were made in 1928. They were meant to be flown for important visitors from other countries.
The Fisher Theatre
The Fisher Building is also home to the Fisher Theatre. This is one of Detroit's oldest places for live shows. The theatre was designed by Anker S. Graven & Arthur G. Mayger. It first had a very fancy Aztec-themed inside. It was in the Mayan Revival style. It even had Mexican-Indian art, banana trees, and live macaws that people could feed. After the Great Depression, the theatre mostly showed movies until 1961.
The theatre originally had 3,500 seats. In 1961, it was changed into a 2,089-seat playhouse. This made the seats and lobbies more spacious for visitors. The inside was changed to a simpler, mid-century design. The Nederlander Organization opened the "new" Fisher Theatre on October 2, 1961. They ran it until April 2021. Then, the Ambassador Theatre Group bought it. Today, the Fisher Theatre mainly hosts traveling Broadway shows. Many new shows have also started there before going to Broadway.
Art in the Fisher Building
The Fisher Building has a history with art. Three well-known art galleries have been located there. These include the Gertrude Kasle Gallery and London Fine Arts Group.
- Gertrude Kasle Gallery: This gallery was in the Fisher Building from 1965 to 1976. It was famous across the country. It showed art from many respected artists. Some of these artists included Willem de Kooning, Jim Dine, Helen Frankenthaler, and Robert Rauschenberg.
- London Fine Arts Group: This group was on a large part of the third floor in the 1970s and 1980s. They helped create limited edition artworks. They worked with many international artists. These included Yaacov Agam, Karel Appel, Arman, and Victor Vasarely.
Images for kids
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Arcade and theatre entrance
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See also
In Spanish: Fisher Building para niños
