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 landmark skyscraper in Detroit, Michigan. It stands tall at 3011 West Grand Boulevard. This amazing 30-story building was finished in 1928. It was designed by the famous architect Albert Kahn. The building has a cool Art Deco style. It is covered with limestone, granite, and different kinds 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 beautiful 2,089-seat Fisher Theatre. The Fisher Building was named a National Historic Landmark in 1989. It is also home to the main offices for the Detroit Public Schools. You can also find the studios for radio stations WJR, WDVD, and WUFL here.
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Building History and Design
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The first plan for the Fisher Building was even bigger. Architect Joseph Nathaniel French wanted three buildings. There would be two 30-story towers. A huge 60-story tower would stand between them. But the Great Depression happened. This meant they had to build only one tower.
The Fisher brothers chose this spot carefully. It was right across from the General Motors Building. This area became a new business center for Detroit. It was called the New Center.
The roof of the building was once covered with gold tiles. But during World War II, these tiles were covered with asphalt. People worried the shiny gold might attract enemy planes. After the war, the asphalt could not be taken off. So, the gold tiles were replaced with green ones. Since the 1980s, special lights shine on the roof at night. They make the green tiles look gold again. On St. Patrick's Day, the lights turn green. For NHL playoffs, they turn red for the Detroit Red Wings.
Over the years, the building has had different owners. In 2015, a group of developers bought it. They plan to make it a mix of offices, shops, homes, and fun places. In 2023, Michigan State University bought most of the building.
Amazing Architecture Details
The Fisher Building is 30 stories tall. Its roof is about 428 feet (130 meters) high. The very top of its spire reaches 444 feet (135 meters). The building has 21 elevators. Albert Kahn and Associates designed it. Joseph Nathaniel French was the main architect. He was inspired by another famous design. He focused on making the building look very tall. He also added "stepped-back" upper stories. This building is very special. Some people call it "Detroit's largest art object."
In 1929, the Fisher Building won a silver medal for its architecture. This award came from the Architectural League of New York. The building has a grand, three-story lobby. It has a rounded ceiling, like a barrel. This lobby is made with 40 different kinds of marble. A Hungarian artist named Géza Maróti decorated it. Many architects think it is very beautiful. Artists like Maróti, Corrado Parducci, and others created the sculptures outside.
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Arcade and theatre entrance
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Radio Stations in the Golden Tower
The building was planned to have two flagpoles on its gold roof. But a radio antenna was put up instead. This happened when radio station WJR moved in back in 1928. Radio hosts often say they broadcast "from the golden tower of the Fisher Building." This was part of their first agreement for renting space. Two other radio stations, WDVD-FM and WUFL, also have studios here.
In 1970, workers found a sealed storage room. No one knew what was inside. When they opened it, they found flags from 75 countries. These flags were made in 1928. They were meant to be flown for important visitors from other countries.
Fisher Theatre: A Stage for Broadway
The Fisher Building is also home to the Fisher Theatre. This is one of Detroit's oldest live theaters. The theater was designed by Anker S. Graven & Arthur G. Mayger. It first had a fancy Aztec-themed inside. It looked like a Mayan temple. It even had Mexican-Indian art, banana trees, and live macaws that people could feed.
After the Great Depression, the theater mostly showed movies. In 1961, it was changed. It went from 3,500 seats to 2,089 seats. This made the seats and lobbies much bigger and more comfortable. The inside was changed to a simpler, mid-century style.
The "new" Fisher Theatre opened in 1961. It mostly shows traveling Broadway plays. Many famous shows have had their first tryouts here before going to Broadway. Some of these include Hello, Dolly!, Fiddler on the Roof, and The Wiz.
Famous Shows at the Fisher Theatre
Many popular Broadway shows had their first performances at the Fisher Theatre before moving to New York City.
- 1963: Hello, Dolly!
- 1964: Fiddler on the Roof
- 1965: Sweet Charity
- 1970: Applause
- 1974: The Wiz
- 1996: Big
Art and Galleries
The Fisher Building has a history with art. Three well-known art galleries have been located here. These include the Gertrude Kasle Gallery and London Fine Arts Group. These galleries showed works by many respected artists.
Who Works Here?
The Fisher Building is home to many different groups and businesses.
- Detroit Public Schools have many offices on different floors.
- Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan have an office and a shop.
- Children's Hospital of Michigan Foundation has an office.
- City Bakery, a famous New York City company, has a shop here.
- The Allen Law Group, PC, a law firm, has offices.
In 2017, one floor was turned into rental space for groups focused on art.
See also
In Spanish: Fisher Building para niños
