Detroit Cornice and Slate Company Building

The Detroit Cornice and Slate Company was started by Frank Hesse in 1888.[http://www.detroitcorniceandslate.com/ Detroit Cornice and Slate Company] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704055230/http://detroitcorniceandslate.com/ |date=2008-07-04 }} website In 1897, the company hired Harry J. Rill to design a Beaux-Arts three-story building for their use.{{Cite book | author=Hill, Eric J. and John Gallagher | title=AIA Detroit: The American Institute of Architects Guide to Detroit Architecture | year=2002 | publisher=Wayne State University Press | isbn=0-8143-3120-3 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/aiadetroitameric0000hill }} P. 38.{{Cite book | author= Sharoff, Robert | title=American City: Detroit Architecture, 1845-2005| publisher=Wayne State University Press| year=2005| isbn=0-8143-3270-6| author-link= Robert Sharoff}} P. 14. The building was used by the company until 1972, when lack of storage and parking space forced the company to relocate in Ferndale. In 1974, the building was renovated for office and commercial use by architect Bill Kessler. In the 1990s, the Metro Times newspaper moved into the building; a wraparound addition was constructed to increase room for the newspaper. In 1999 William Kessler and Associates restored and made an addition to the building.

In July 2013 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan was finalizing the purchase of the Cornice and Slate Company Building, which had the Metro Times and Paxahau, an event production and management company that produces the Movement Electronic Music Festival. The Cornice and Slate building is adjacent to the BCBS Bricktown customer service facility. The acquisition of the Cornice and Slate building would add additional space to BCBS's Greektown facility. The ground floor lease to the Flood's Bar & Grille would be maintained while the Cornice and Slate second and third floors would be used as office space for about 100 BCBS employees.Rupersburg, Nicole. Source: Helen Stojic, Director of Blue Cross Blue Shield Michigan. "[http://www.modeldmedia.com/devnews/bcbsdetroitcorniceandslate.aspx Blue Cross Blue Shield in talks to purchase Detroit Cornice and Slate Building]." ([https://archive.today/20140102021800/http://www.modeldmedia.com/devnews/bcbsdetroitcorniceandslate.aspx Archive]) Model D. Tuesday July 16, 2013. Retrieved on January 1, 2014. This means that the other tenants would be expected to move out of the building. Helen Stojic, director of corporate communications for BCBS, did not state the sale price of the building. BCBS was expected to close on the purchase in August 2013.Pinho, Kirk. "[http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20130811/NEWS/308119952/this-just-in-blue-cross-to-buy-building-that-houses-metro-times THIS JUST IN: Blue Cross to buy building that houses Metro Times]." Crain's Detroit Business. August 11, 2013. Updated August 17, 2013. Retrieved on January 1, 2014.

By July 16, 2013 Chris Sexson of the Metro Times stated that the publication had not yet made definitive plans for its new headquarters but was already looking for a new headquarters location. The acquisition forced the Metro Times to move. The newspaper leased space in a facility in Ferndale, Michigan.McGraw, Bill. "[http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/6549/adieu_downtown_metro_times_moving_to_ferndale_after_33_years_in_detroit Adieu, Downtown: Metro Times Moving To Ferndale After 33 Years In Detroit]." ([https://archive.today/20140102013611/http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/6549/adieu_downtown_metro_times_moving_to_ferndale_after_33_years_in_detroit%23.UsTCgn3LfK5 Archive]) Deadline Detroit Media. Deadline Detroit, Inc. September 26, 2013. Retrieved on January 1, 2014.

The facade of this building is constructed from finely crafted galvanized steel.[http://www.ci.detroit.mi.us/historic/districts/detroit_cornice.pdf Detroit Cornice and Slate Building] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120213235329/http://www.ci.detroit.mi.us/historic/districts/detroit_cornice.pdf Archive]) from the city of Detroit These metal facades permitted elegant ornamentation to be constructed quickly and cheaply, particularly in locations like Detroit where stone was not easily obtainable. The Detroit Cornice and Slate Company itself fashioned many of the building's simulated carvings from sheet metal.

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• {{Cite book | author=Sobocinski, Melanie Grunow | title= Detroit and Rome: building on the past | publisher=Regents of the University of Michigan| year=2005 | isbn=0-933691-09-2}}

{{Portal|Michigan|Architecture}}

• [http://www.detroitcorniceandslate.com/ Detroit Cornice and Slate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704055230/http://detroitcorniceandslate.com/ |date=2008-07-04 }}
• [http://metrotimes.com/ Metro Times]

{{Architecture of metropolitan Detroit}}

{{National Register of Historic Places in Michigan}}

Category:Office buildings in Detroit

Category:Downtown Detroit

Category:Office buildings completed in 1897

Category:National Register of Historic Places in Detroit

Category:Michigan State Historic Sites in Wayne County, Michigan

Category:Beaux-Arts architecture in Michigan