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Guardian Building (Union Trust Building, Union Guardian Building)

Michigan's National Historic Landmarks

Guardian Building (Union Trust Building, Union Guardian Building)

SIGNIFICANCE

Guardian Building, Detroit

The Guardian Building is part of the progression of the American skyscraper that began with Cass Gilbert's Woolworth Building in New York and is one of the most exuberant Art Deco skyscrapers built in America. Brilliantly colored Arts and Crafts tiles and orange brick, formulated especially for this building, cover the thirty-six-story steel frame structure. From its location on an entire block in the financial district, the warm and colorful bank building exudes a friendly cordiality.

The building is profusely ornamented inside and out with geometric designs executed in brilliantly colored terra cotta and glazed tile, and gold-stained glass and metal. Much of the tile used inside and out was created by Detroit's famed Pewabic Pottery. Because of its plan, its lofty banking room with nave and side aisles, and its sumptuous decoration, the bank and office building appropriately was termed "the cathedral of finance."

The lobby and banking hall are open to the public and guided tours are available for a fee.

DESIGNATION(S)

  • 1989, National Historic Landmark
  • 1989, National Register of Historic Places

ARCHITECT, BUILDER, OR DESIGNER(S)

  • Wirt C. Rowland, architect
  • Mary Chase Perry Stratton, ceramics artist

SIGNIFICANT DATE(S)

  • 1928, date of erection

LINKS AND FURTHER READING

  • Guardian Building official website
  • "Guardian Building," HistoricDetroit.org
  • "The Guardian Building, Detroit" (video), Under the Radar, Detroit PBS
  • "Guardian Building," National Park Service
  • "The Guardian Building: Cathedral of Finance," James W. Tottis
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