First National Building Explained

First National Building
Completion Date:1922
Building Type:Office
Roof:341feet
Top Floor:336feet
Antenna Spire:357feet
Floor Count:26
Owner:Bedrock Detroit
Floor Area:843051square feet
Architect:Albert Kahn
References:[1]
Nrhp:
Embed:yes
First National Building
Nrhp Type:cp
Nocat:yes
Partof:Detroit Financial District
Partof Refnum:09001067
Location:660 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, Michigan
Coordinates:42.331°N -83.0459°W
Designated Nrhp Type:December 14, 2009

The First National Building is a skyscraper and class-A office center in Downtown Detroit, Michigan, within the Detroit Financial District. The building is located across the streets from Cadillac Tower and One Detroit Center, and stands next to the Vinton Building.

Description

Built between 1921 and 1930,[2] the building rises 26 stories and includes two basement levels, occupying an entire block along Cadillac Square (adjacent to Campus Martius Park). It is 341 feet (104 m) tall. The structure has an unusual "Z" shape, designed so that most offices would have natural light and ventilation.

The building, designed by Albert Kahn in the Neoclassical architectural style, was constructed primarily with limestone. Three-story Corinthian columns surround the building at the second floor. The space behind the columns originally housed the main banking hall; however, this space was divided for offices during a renovation. The building also houses a parking garage in the South East tower, which is accessible from Bates Street. The original cornice was removed in the late 1970s, and the parapet of the building covered with corrugated aluminum.

The first floor of the building houses retail space, while the upper floors were designed as commercial offices. Rock Ventures is a major tenant in the building's commercial offices, with Amrock being a primary tenant on most floors.

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: First National Building. Skyscraper Center. CTBUH. 2017-07-27.
  2. http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=7462 First National Building