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Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building facts for kids

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Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building
Patrick V McNamara from People Mover.jpg
General information
Type office
Location 477 Michigan Avenue
Detroit, Michigan
Coordinates 42°19′52″N 83°03′12″W / 42.33115°N 83.05322°W / 42.33115; -83.05322
Completed 1976
Height
Antenna spire 414 ft (126 m)
Roof 393 ft (120 m)
Top floor 380 ft (120 m)
Technical details
Floor count 27
Design and construction
Architect Smith, Hinchman and Grylls

The Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building is a very tall office building located at 477 Michigan Avenue in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. It was designed by a Detroit architecture company called Smith, Hinchman and Grylls. The building opened in 1976. Its main purpose was to bring many different offices of the United States government together in one central place.

This building is home to several important government groups. These include the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the FBI. You can also find offices for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD), the Internal Revenue Service, and the Social Security Administration here. The building is named after Patrick V. McNamara. He was an important Senator from Michigan who served from 1955 to 1966.

What's Inside the Building?

The Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building houses many different government offices. These offices help people with various services and needs.

Government Agencies and Services

Many important federal agencies have offices in this building.

  • Army Corps of Engineers: This group works on engineering projects for the military and public.
  • Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): They help with housing and community development.
  • Department of Veterans Affairs: This office supports military veterans.
  • Detroit Immigration Court: Part of the United States Department of Homeland Security, this court handles immigration cases.
  • Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: They work to prevent discrimination in workplaces.
  • FBI field office: The FBI investigates crimes and protects national security.
  • Internal Revenue Service: This agency collects taxes.
  • National Labor Relations Board: They protect the rights of workers.
  • People Driven Credit Union: A financial institution.
  • Railroad Retirement Board: This board provides retirement and disability benefits for railroad workers.
  • Secret Service: They protect leaders and investigate financial crimes.
  • Small Business Administration: This group helps small businesses grow.
  • Social Security Administration: They manage social security benefits.
  • U.S. Census Bureau: This bureau collects information about the country's population.
  • U.S. Senator Gary Peters: One of Michigan's current Senators.
  • U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow: Another of Michigan's current Senators.

Building Design and Art

Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building
The McNamara Federal Building seen from the southwest.

The McNamara Federal Building is about 27 floors tall. It has a unique design style called "brutalist architecture." This style often uses strong, block-like shapes and exposed concrete. The building's corners are set back, which makes the structure even stronger.

Outdoor Plaza and Sculpture

The building is surrounded by a large open area called a plaza. This plaza covers a parking garage and a loading dock. In 1987, a modern sculpture called Detroit Deliquescence was placed on the plaza. This sculpture was created by John Chamberlain. It is made from crushed car body panels and is about 14 feet tall.

The sculpture was moved in 2001 for repairs to the plaza. Because it had been outside for many years, it was decided to move it indoors to protect it. In 2009, the sculpture found a new home at the College for Creative Studies in their A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education.

Art Inside the Lobby

The lobby of the building also features two artworks. One is a colorful painting by Sam Gilliam called Box Cars Grand. The other is an oil painting by Harold Cohn titled Decorative Map of Belle Isle.

See also

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