Michigan Bell Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Michigan Bell Building
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| Location | 309 S. Washington, Saginaw, Michigan |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1930 |
| Architect | Smith, Hinchman & Grylls |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| MPS | Center Saginaw MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002870 |
| Added to NRHP | July 9, 1982 |
The Michigan Bell Building is a cool old building in Saginaw, Michigan. It's located at 309 South Washington. This building was once used for offices and industrial work. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This means it's an important historical place.
Contents
Building History
Why the Building Was Needed
In the late 1920s, a company called Michigan Bell needed a new place. They needed space for their new dial telephone equipment. This was a big step forward in telephone technology.
Designing and Building It
Michigan Bell hired a company from Detroit called Smith, Hinchman & Grylls. This company was chosen to design the new building. Construction on the Michigan Bell Building started in 1930.
Later Changes and Use
Later, in 1974, a new part was added to the building. The building was designed to be very flexible. This allowed Michigan Bell, and later AT&T, to keep using it for many years. They used it all the way through the 2010s.
Building Design
Outside Look
The Michigan Bell Building has seven stories. It is made of limestone and has an Art Deco style. This style was very popular in the 1920s and 1930s. The upper floors of the building are "stepped back." This means they are set back from the floors below them.
Details of the Floors
The first two floors look like one big section. They have tall windows. Wide stone bands separate the third through sixth floors. The seventh and eighth floors are set back even more. They have cool zigzag patterns called chevrons.
Built for Heavy Equipment
This building was made to hold very heavy equipment. It was designed to support more than twice the weight of a normal office building. This was important for all the telephone machinery inside.
See also
In Spanish: Michigan Bell Building para niños
