Metropolitan Center for High Technology facts for kids
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S. S. Kresge World Headquarters
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Location | 2727 Second Avenue Detroit, Michigan |
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| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Albert Kahn |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Part of | Cass Park Historic District (ID04001580) |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001175 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 19, 1979 |
The Metropolitan Center for High Technology is an important office building in Midtown, Detroit, Michigan. It was once known as the S. S. Kresge World Headquarters. This building is located at 2727 Second Avenue.
In 1979, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was also named a Michigan State Historic Site that same year. Today, the building is part of Wayne State University. It helps new companies grow as a business incubator.
Contents
Building History: From Kresge to Tech
Who Was Sebastian S. Kresge?
Sebastian S. Kresge was a very successful traveling salesman. In 1884, he bought a share in two retail stores. One of these stores was in Detroit. Kresge moved to Detroit and soon took over a "five and dime" store on Woodward Avenue.
He named the store after himself. By 1899, Kresge began to create a chain of these popular stores. By 1912, his chain had grown to 85 Kresge stores across the country.
Building the First Headquarters
Kresge turned his business into a company. He decided to build an impressive office building for its main headquarters. He asked Albert Kahn, a famous architect, to design an 18-story building. This building is now called the Kales Building.
Kresge's business did very well during World War I. After the war, the company grew too big for its first headquarters.
Designing a New, Larger Headquarters
Kresge hired Albert Kahn again. This time, he wanted a much larger headquarters. The new building was planned for Second Avenue near Cass Park. It needed to be big enough for 1,200 Kresge employees.
The new building was finished in 1927. It was special because it spread out horizontally, unlike tall skyscrapers. This design won awards for its amazing architecture.
What Does the Kresge Headquarters Look Like?
The Kresge World Headquarters is made of limestone. It is shaped like a large letter "E," with the open parts facing away from the park. The building covers an entire city block. It has about 250,000 square feet (23,226 square meters) of office space.
The middle part of the building, facing Cass Park, is five-and-a-half stories tall. The side sections, or "wings," are four stories tall. The building mixes different styles. It has a copper roof that looks like the Second Empire style. The smooth, clean walls show the Art Deco style.
Special Design Details
The windows are in neat rows, making the building look wide. The entrance has classic columns called Doric pilasters, which make it look tall. A decorative band separates the fourth floor from the lower floors. The upper floors have smaller windows that still match the ones below.
Inside, the entrance uses shiny granite. The walls are decorated with beautiful walnut wood panels.
What is the Building Used for Today?
Kresge used these offices until 1972, when the company moved to Troy. After that, the building was used by the Detroit Institute of Technology.
Now, the building is part of Wayne State University. It is known as the Metropolitan Center for High Technology. It helps new technology companies get started and grow. Some Wayne State University departments also have offices here.
Images for kids
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The S. S. Kresge World Headquarters building in Detroit.
See also
In Spanish: Metropolitan Center for High Technology para niños
