Michigan Trust Company Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Michigan Trust Company Building
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| Location | 40 Pearl St., NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan |
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| Area | 0.4 acres (0.16 ha) |
| Built | 1891 |
| Architect | Solon S. Beman |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000879 |
| Added to NRHP | February 24, 1983 |
The Michigan Trust Company Building, also known as the Michigan Trust Building, is a historic office building. You can find it at 40 Pearl Street NW in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This important building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. It was once the tallest building in Grand Rapids!
Contents
Building History: A Grand Rapids Landmark
The Michigan Trust Company was started in 1889 by a group of business leaders in Grand Rapids. These included Anton G. Hodenpyl and Lewis H. Withey. In 1890, the company bought land to build their main office.
Designing a Tall Building
The company hired Solon S. Beman, an architect from Chicago. He designed the building in the Romanesque Revival style. This style was inspired by old buildings in Spain and France. Beman used red sandstone, red brick, and terra-cotta for the outside. These materials gave the building a unique and elegant look.
Construction and Early Years
Building started in 1891 and finished in 1892. This new building was special because it was the first in Grand Rapids built only for offices. At the time, it was the tallest building in Grand Rapids. It was also the second tallest in Michigan, after the Hammond Building in Detroit.
Growing Taller: Additions and Clubs
In 1913, the Michigan Trust Company added two more sections to the back. These additions were ten stories tall. Later, in the late 1920s, a small eleventh story was added. This top floor became home to the University Club and the Women's City Club.
Who Owned the Building?
Many important businesses in Grand Rapids had offices here. In 1957, Old Kent Bank moved its main office into the building. They also started managing it. In 1967, Alfred Taubman bought the building. He shortened its name to the "Trust Company Building," and then just the "Trust Building." Over the years, other companies owned the building. CWD Real Estate bought it in 2012.
What the Building Looks Like
The Michigan Trust Company Building is a ten-story office building. It has a steel frame and is shaped like a "U." It measures about 128 feet by 132 feet. The building sits on a corner, so two sides face the street.
Outside Materials and Design
The bottom two stories of the building are made of rough, red sandstone. The upper eight stories use dark red brick with red terra cotta trim. The building's outside walls are also divided into sections by trim. You can see this trim above the seventh and ninth floors.
Windows and Details
Each side of the building facing the street has 117 window openings. The windows on the second, seventh, and ninth floors have round tops. The windows on all the other floors have square tops. These details make the building stand out.
