Guardian Building Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Significant dates

Guardian Building
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
U.S. Historic district Contributing property


Location	500 Griswold Street Detroit, Michigan
Built	1929
Architect	Wirt C. Rowland of Smith, Hinchman & Grylls
Architectural style	Mayan Revival, Art Deco
Part of	Detroit Financial District (ID09001067)
NRHP reference No.	89001165
Added to NRHP	June 29, 1989
Designated NHL	June 29, 1989

The Guardian Building is a famous tall building, also known as a skyscraper, located in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. It stands at 500 Griswold Street, right in the city's financial area. This amazing building is owned by Wayne County, Michigan and serves as their main office.

Built between 1928 and 1929, the Guardian Building was first called the Union Trust Building. It's a fantastic example of Art Deco architecture, which is a very stylish design popular in the 1920s and 1930s. At the very top of the Guardian Building, a large U.S. flag waves proudly. The building has been updated recently and has even won awards for its new look. It was recognized as a special National Historic Landmark on June 29, 1989. You can also find shops and a gift store inside!

Building Design and Art
- Inside the Guardian Building
Cool Innovations
Building History
Who Works Here?
Images for kids
See also

Building Design and Art

The Guardian Building is 36 stories tall. It has two unique spires at the top, with one reaching four extra stories even higher! The roof of the building is 496 feet (151 meters) high, and its tallest spire reaches an amazing 632 feet (192.6 meters). People sometimes call it the Cathedral of Finance. This nickname comes from how much it looks like a cathedral, with its tall tower and special rounded end. It also reminds people of New York City's Woolworth Building, which was called the Cathedral of Commerce.

Native American designs are featured all over the building, both inside and out. The main architect was Wirt C. Rowland from the Smith, Hinchman & Grylls company. The building starts with a six-story base made of granite and stone. Two sculptures by Corrado Parducci stand on either side of the Griswold Street entrance. The outside of the building mixes brickwork with colorful tile, limestone, and terra cotta. Rowland was very careful with every detail. He even oversaw the making of the special colored bricks to get the perfect look for the outside. These bricks were later sold as "Union Trust Brick." He also designed furniture for the bank's offices and even tableware for a restaurant inside the building!

Inside the Guardian Building

The building's main lobby is three stories high and has a beautiful arched ceiling. It's wonderfully decorated with colorful tiles from Pewabic and Rookwood. The half-circle domes on the outside are also filled with Pewabic Pottery. Mary Chase Perry Stratton worked closely with the architect to create these special designs.

A fancy metal screen made of Monel metal separates the lobby from the banking hall on the second floor. This screen has a clock in the middle, designed by Tiffany. The building also features amazing artwork by muralist Ezra Winter. You can see a large mosaic above the main lobby desk and a mural at the end of the banking hall. The big mosaic shows a pine tree and explains the Union Trust Company's goal for the building: "Founded on principles of faith and understanding, this building is erected for the purpose of continuing and maintaining the ideals of financial services which promoted the organization of the institution." The mural highlights Michigan's important industries, like making things, farming, and mining. To keep the banking hall quiet, its ceiling has a hand-painted canvas stretched over a mat of horsehair!

Cool Innovations

The Guardian Building was very advanced for its time, both in its design and the technology it used. The architect, Wirt Rowland, chose a special metal called Monel for all the visible metal parts of the building. This was new because most buildings used brass or bronze. This idea became very popular and was even used in New York's famous Chrysler Building.

Rowland also used colored materials like brick, stone, and terra cotta in cool geometric patterns instead of traditional decorations. This made the building look very modern. Even the elevators were innovative! They were the first to automatically stop level with the floor and open their doors, which used to be done by a person.

Building History

The Union Trust Company built this skyscraper. It was started in Detroit in 1890 by important people like Senator James McMillan and Dexter M. Ferry. Other investors included Russell A. Alger, Col. Frank J. Hecker, and Christian H. Buhl.

During World War II, the Guardian Building became a very important place. It served as the U.S. Army Command Center, helping to manage wartime production. After the war, it continued to be an office building for many different companies in downtown Detroit. In 1982, it became the main office for Michigan Consolidated Gas Company, also known as "MichCon." Under the leadership of Stephen E. Ewing, MichCon restored the beautiful lobby and vaulted ceilings in 1986. MichCon stayed there until 2001.

In 2002, a company called the Sterling Group bought the building. They spent $14 million to improve it and reopened the lobby to the public. Before that, only employees could go inside. On July 18, 2007, Robert Ficano, who was the Wayne County Executive, announced that Wayne County would buy the Guardian Building. They wanted to move their offices there from the Wayne County Building. This deal was part of a bigger plan to buy several properties in downtown Detroit. Today, the Guardian Building is a popular souvenir item, just like other famous Detroit skyscrapers.

Who Works Here?

Many different groups and businesses have offices in the Guardian Building today. Some of them include:

SmithGroupJJR
Wayne County
Detroit Land Bank Authority
Guardian Cafe
Pure Detroit
Bank of America
Huron Capital
Detroit Economic Growth Corporation
Digerati
Downtown Realty
Eagle Security Services
ARC Document Solutions
EnSoul Yoga
Federal Criminal Attorneys of Michigan
Fischer, Franklin & Ford
Law Office of Ben Gonek & Joel Sklar
Law Office of Jeffrey Edison
Invest Michigan
Jacobs & Diemer
JetCast USA
Roncelli Construction Services
Attorney Kenneth Sebree
Superior Capital Partners
Tyme Engineering
Wade Trim
WSP

Images for kids

The Guardian Building, flying the American flag over the Detroit Financial District
Top of the Guardian Building, with The Qube in the foreground
The sculptures of Safety and Security flank the main entrance
Semi-circular dome over the main entrance
Monel metal gates in the basement
Lower lobby
Ceiling tile in the lobby
Banking hall
Lamp in the elevator lobby
Guardian Building Stair Well
Pedestrian bridge between the Guardian Building and One Woodward Avenue