Fisher Building

Fisher Building
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Michigan State Historic Site
Location	3011 West Grand Boulevard Detroit, Michigan
Coordinates	42°22′9.5″N 83°4′37″W / 42.369306°N 83.07694°WCoordinates: 42°22′9.5″N 83°4′37″W / 42.369306°N 83.07694°W
Area	486,991 square feet (45,242.9 m^2)
Architect	Albert Kahn Associates with Joseph Nathaniel French as chief architect
Architectural style	Art Deco
NRHP Reference #	07000847
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	14 October 1980[1]
Designated NHL	29 June 1989[2]
Designated MSHS	October 21, 1975

The Fisher Building (1928) is a landmark skyscraper located at 3011 West Grand Boulevard in the heart of the New Center area of Detroit, Michigan. The ornate building is designed in an Art Deco style, constructed of limestone, granite, and several types of marble. The Fisher family financed the building with proceeds from the sale of Fisher Body to General Motors. It was designed to house office and retail space.^[3]

The building, which contains the elaborate 2,089-seat Fisher Theatre,^[4][5] was designated a National Historic Landmark 29 June 1989. It also houses the headquarters for the Detroit Public Schools.

History

Façade detail

Initially, architect Joseph Nathaniel French of Albert Kahn Associates planned for a complex of three buildings, with two 30-story structures flanking a 60-story tower. However, the Great Depression kept the project at one tower.^[6]

The Fisher brothers located the building across from the General Motors Building, now Cadillac Place, as General Motors recently purchased the Fisher Body Company. The two massive buildings spurred the development of a New Center for the city, a business district north of its downtown area.

The building's hipped roof was originally covered with gold leaf tiles, but during World War II these tiles were covered in asphalt because it was feared that the reflective surface would attract enemy bombers.^[3] After the war, the asphalt could not be removed from the gold tiles without harming them, so they were replaced with green tiles. Since the 1980s, these tiles have been illuminated at night with colored lights to give them a gold appearance. On St. Patrick's Day, the lights are changed to green and, in recent years, to celebrate the NHL playoffs, the tower is illuminated with red lights in honor of the Detroit Red Wings.

In 1974, Tri-Star Development purchased the Fisher Building and adjoining New Center Building for approximately $20 million.^[7]

In 2001, Farbman Group, a real estate firm based in Southfield, purchased the two buildings from TrizecHahn Corporation for $31 million.^[8] Farbman Group lost the buildings to its lender in 2015.

In June 2015, Southfield-based developer Redico LLC, in partnership with HFZ Capital Group of New York City and others, taking advantage of the general decline in Detroit real estate values, purchased the Fisher Building and adjacent Albert Kahn Building, plus 2,000 parking spaces in two parking structures and three surface lots in New Center for only $12.2 million at auction. Redico said the partnership plans to transition the two buildings, which are connected by an underground pedestrian concourse, into what it called a "true urban" mixed-use development, with a mix of office, retail, residential and entertainment uses. The multi-year project has a potential cost of $70 million to $80 million in addition to the purchase price.^[9][10]

Architecture

Lobby

The Fisher Building rises 30 stories with a roof height of 428 feet (130 m), a top floor height of 339 feet (103 m), and the spire reaching 444 feet (135 m). The building has 21 elevators. Albert Kahn and Associates designed the building with Joseph Nathaniel French serving as chief architect.^[11] French took inspiration from Eliel Saarinen's Tribune Tower design of 1922, seen in the emphasis on verticality and the stepped-back upper stories. The building is unlike any other Albert Kahn production.^[12] It has been called "Detroit's largest art object".^[3]

In 1929, the Architectural League of New York honored the Fisher Building with a silver medal in architecture.^[13] The opulent three-story barrel vaulted lobby is constructed with forty different kinds of marble, decorated by Hungarian artist Géza Maróti, and is highly regarded by architects.^[4][5] The sculpture on the exterior of the building was supplied by several sculptors including Maróti, Corrado Parducci, Anthony De Lorenzo and Ulysses Ricci.

Radio

Designs called for two flagpoles atop the gilt roof. While they were installed, they were essentially unusable as a radio antenna was installed when one of the building's oldest tenants, radio station WJR, leased space in December 1928. On-air hosts often mention that broadcasts originate "from the golden tower of the Fisher Building." This was a requirement of the station's original lease in exchange for a nominal rent.^[14] Two other radio stations, WDVD-FM and WDRQ-FM, also have broadcast studios in the building.

In 1970, building employees discovered a storage room sealed with tape. None of the staff knew what the room contained or why it was sealed. When they located the key, they found the flags of 75 nations that apparently were created in 1928 and intended to be flown for foreign visitors.^[3]

Fisher Theatre

The building also is home to the Fisher Theatre, one of Detroit's oldest live theatre venues. The theatre originally featured a lavish Aztec-themed interior in the Mayan Revival style,^[3] and once had Mexican-Indian art, banana trees, and live macaws that its patrons could feed. After the Depression, the theatre operated primarily as a movie house until 1961. Originally containing 3,500 seats, the interior was renovated into a 2,089-seat playhouse that allowed for more spacious seating and lobbies for patrons at a cost of $3,500,000. The decor was changed to a simple mid-century design (which some feel is now far more "dated" in appearance than the grandiose art deco foyer). The "new" Fisher Theatre opened October 2, 1961^[15] and is owned and operated by the Nederlander Organization. It primarily features traveling productions of Broadway shows and has hosted numerous out-of-town tryouts.

Pre-Broadway Engagements at the Fisher:^[16][17]

• 1961: The Gay Life
• 1962: No Strings, Oliver!
• 1963: Here's Love, Jennie, Hello, Dolly!
• 1964: Foxy, Fiddler on the Roof, Golden Boy, I Had a Ball
• 1965: Pleasures and Palaces, Pickwick, Sweet Charity
• 1966: Pousse-Café, Walking Happy
• 1967: Illya Darling, Henry, Sweet Henry
• 1968: I'm Solomon, Maggie Flynn
• 1969: La Strada
• 1970: Applause, The Rothschilds
• 1973: Seesaw, Gigi
• 1996: Big

Art

Befitting the Fisher Building's history in association with art, three nationally recognized fine-art galleries have occupied space in the structure including the Gertrude Kasle Gallery and London Fine Arts Group.

• Gertrude Kasle Gallery: Located in Suite 310 of the Fisher Building from 1965-1976 was a nationally recognized fine-art gallery hosting exhibits for some of the most highly respected artists of the second half of the 20th century including Willem de Kooning, Jim Dine, Helen Frankenthaler, Robert Goodnough, Adolph Gottlieb, Phillip Guston, Grace Hartigan, Ian Hornak, Ray Johnson, Robert Motherwell, Lowell Nesbitt, Claes Oldenburg, Robert Rauschenberg and Jack Tworkov.
• London Fine Arts Group: Located in a large portion of the third floor of the Fisher Building during the 1970s and 1980s, London Fine Arts Group acted as an internationally recognized publishing company assisting in producing limited edition art works for many internationally recognized artists including Yaacov Agam, Karel Appel, Arman, Romare Bearden, Gene Davis, Don Eddy, Alberto Giacometti, Ian Hornak, Lester Johnson, Alex Katz, Richard Lindner, Roberto Matta, Lowell Nesbitt, Robert Rauschenberg, Donald Sultan, Victor Vasarely and Larry Zox.

Tenants

• Detroit Public Schools
  • 4th floor: Department of State and Federal Programs (Suite 450)^[18]
  • 6th floor: Office of the Secretary of the Board of Education^[19]
  • 9th floor:
    • Office of Athletics^[20]
    • Office of Literacy^[21]
    • Multilingual-Multicultural Education in DPS (Suite 119)^[22]
    • Office of Specialized Student Services (Special Education)^[23]
    • Office of Innovation^[24]
  • 10th floor:
    • Division of Talent (Human Resources)^[25]
    • Division of Labor Relations^[26]
    • Division of Technology and Information Services (Suit 1000)^[27]
  • 11th floor:
    • Division of Finance^[28]
    • Payroll Department^[29]
    • Office of Risk Management (Suite 1100)^[30]
  • 14th floor: Main Administration^[31]
    • Office of the Emergency Manager^[32]
    • Office of the Inspector General^[33]
    • Operations Group^[34]
• Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan
  • 1st Floor: Council Shop^[35]
  • 5th Floor: Office^[36]

Gallery

• 

  Grand Boulevard Façade through the trees in early spring

• 

  Fisher Building, New Center One and Walkway from Cadillac Place

• 

  Grand Boulevard Façade

• 

  Third Floor Walkway

See also

• Cadillac Place
• Guardian Building
• Albert Kahn Building
• Pewabic Pottery
• List of tallest buildings in Detroit

References

Notes

1. Staff (2008-04-15). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
2. "Fisher Building". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved 2008-06-27.
3. Houston, Kay; Culpepper, Linda (20 March 2001). "Michigan History: The most beautiful building in the world". The Detroit News (Detnews.com). Retrieved 2010-04-07.
4. Mazzei, Rebecca (30 November 2005). "Still Standing". Metro Times (MetroTimes.com). Retrieved 2010-04-07.
5. AIA Detroit Urban Priorities Committee (10 January 2006). "Top 10 Detroit Interiors". Model D Media. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
6. John Gallagher and Dick Rochan (27 October 1991). "Unbuilt Detroit". Detroit Free Press Magazine (scribd.com). Retrieved 2010-09-06.
7. "Tri-Star Purchases 2 Detroit Buildings". The New York Times (NYTimes.com). 4 January 1974. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
8. Gallagher, John (June 22, 2015). "Bidding heats up as Detroit Fisher Building auction begins". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
9. Gallagher, John (25 June 2015). "Local developers join HFZ in Fisher Building purchase". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2015-07-16.
10. Pinho, Kirk (25 June 2015). "Redico is local partner buying Fisher, Kahn buildings for $12.2 million". Crain's Detroit Business. Retrieved 2015-07-16.
11. "Joseph N. French, Fairlane Architect". Detroit Free Press. 2 March 1975. p. C16. Retrieved 2011-03-21. In the meantime he had served as chief architect for the Fisher Building...
12. Hitchcock, Henry Russell (1977). Architecture: Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Pelican History of Art 215 (4 ed.). Yale University Press. pp. 483–484. ISBN 0300053207.
13. "The Broad Sweep of American Architecture". The New York Times. April 21, 1929. p. 139. Retrieved 2014-05-08. (subscription required (help)).
14. "The Story of WJR". News/Talk WJR. Archived from the original on 12 February 2010. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
15. Stetson, Damon (2 October 1961). "Detroit Theatre Will Open Today". The New York Times. Food Fashions Family Furnishings section, p. 34. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
16. "Fisher Theatre". Broadway in Detroit. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
17. "Fisher Theatre". ovrtur.com. Retrieved 2014-06-14.
18. "Department of State and Federal Programs." Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on November 30, 2015. "Fisher Building – 450 3011 W. Grand Boulevard Detroit, MI 48202"
19. "Office of the Secretary of the Board." Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on November 30, 2015. "Location 6th Floor, Fisher Building 3011 W. Grand Boulevard Detroit, Michigan 48202"
20. "Office of Athletics." Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on November 29, 2015. "9th Floor Fisher Building 3011 West Grand Boulevard Detroit, MI 48202"
21. "Office of Literacy." Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on November 29, 2015. "Office of Literacy 9th Floor, Fisher Building 3011 West Grand Blvd. Detroit, MI 48202 "
22. "Multilingual-Multicultural Education in DPS." Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on November 29, 2015. "9th Floor Fisher Building, Suite 119 3011 West Grand Blvd Detroit, MI 48202"
23. "Office of Specialized Student Service" (Brochure). (Archive). Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on November 30, 2015. "Fisher Building 3031 W Grand Blvd., 9th Floor Detroit MI. 48201 "
24. "Office of Innovation." Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on November 30, 2015. "DPS Office of Innovation Fisher Building, 9th Floor 7321 Second Avenue Detroit MI 48202"
25. "Division of Talent." Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on November 30, 2015. "Fisher Building, 10th Floor 3011 W Grand Blvd Detroit, MI 48202"
26. "Division of Labor Relations." Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on November 30, 2015. "Fisher Building, 10th Floor 3011 W Grand Blvd Detroit, MI 48202"
27. "Division of Technology and Information Services." Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on November 30, 2015. "Fisher Building, 10th Floor, Ste. 1000 3011 W. Grand Blvd. Detroit, MI 48202 "
28. "Division of Finance." Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on November 30, 2015. "Fisher Building – 11th Floor 3011 West Grand Blvd. Detroit, MI 48202"
29. "Office of Payroll." Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on November 29, 2015. "Fisher Building 11th Floor Detroit, MI 48202" and "The Office of Payroll to distribute Aline cards to employees from the Payroll Dept. on the 11th Floor of the Fisher Building. "
30. "Office of Risk Management." Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on November 29, 2015. "Fisher Building – Suite 1100 3011 W. Grand Boulevard Detroit, MI 48202"
31. "Rutherford Elementary Operator" (PDF). Detroit Public Schools. 1 March 2012. Retrieved 2014-05-08. Fisher Building – 14th Floor; 3011 W. Grand Boulevard; Detroit, MI 48202-2710
32. "Office of the Emergency Manager." Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on November 30, 2015. "14th Floor, Fisher Building 3011 West Grand Blvd. Detroit, MI 48202"
33. "Office of the Inspector General." Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on November 30, 2015. "Fisher Building, 14th Floor 3011 West Grand Blvd. Detroit, MI 48202"
34. "Operations Group." Detroit Public Schools. Retrieved on November 30, 2015. "Fisher Building – 14th Floor 3011 W. Grand Blvd. Detroit, MI 48202"
35. "Locations". Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan. Retrieved 2015-11-30. "Detroit Service Center / Council Shop 3011 W. Grand Blvd. 500 Fisher Bldg. Detroit, MI 48202[...]SHOP HOURS (1st Floor):"
36. "GSSEM Service Centers & Council Shops". Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan. Retrieved 2014-05-08.

Bibliography

• Fogelman, Randall (2004). Detroit's New Center. Arcadia. ISBN 0-7385-3271-1.
• Hill, Eric J. and John Gallagher (2002). AIA Detroit: The American Institute of Architects Guide to Detroit Architecture. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-3120-3.
• Meyer, Katherine Mattingly and Martin C.P. McElroy with Introduction by W. Hawkins Ferry, Hon A.I.A. (1980). Detroit Architecture A.I.A. Guide Revised Edition. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-1651-4.
• Savage, Rebecca Binno and Greg Kowalski (2004). Art Deco in Detroit (Images of America). Arcadia. ISBN 0-7385-3228-2.
• Sharoff, Robert (2005). American City: Detroit Architecture. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-3270-6.

External links

• Fisher Building on Facebook
• Fisher Building on Twitter
• Fisher Building on Instagram
• Fisher Building at Emporis.com
• New Center Council
• SkyscraperPage.com's Profile on the Fisher Building
• Metro Times review of American City: Detroit Architecture
• Boxoffice Magazine 1962 story on Fisher Theatre remodel
• Motion Picture News 1929 Fisher Theatre pictorial