First National Building
{{Short description|A skyscraper and class-A office center in downtown Detroit}}
{{For|First National Bank Building|First National Bank Building (disambiguation){{!}}First National Bank Building}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox building
| name = First National Building
| image = 1stNationalBldgingdetroit.jpg
| image_size = 180px
| caption =
| completion_date = 1922
| building_type = Office
| location =
| roof = {{convert|341|ft|abbr=on}}
| top_floor = {{convert|336|ft|abbr=on}}
| antenna_spire = {{convert|357|ft|abbr=on}}
| floor_count = 26
| owner = Bedrock Detroit
| floor_area = {{convert|843,051|sqft|abbr=on}}
| architect = Albert Kahn
| nrhp = {{Infobox NRHP
| embed = yes
| name = First National Building
| nrhp_type = cp
| nocat = yes
| partof = Detroit Financial District
| partof_refnum = 09001067
| image =
| caption =
| location = 660 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, Michigan
| coordinates = {{coord|42|19|51.7|N|83|2|45.2|W|region:US-MI_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin =
| area =
| built =
| architect =
| architecture =
| 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,[http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=7462 First National Building]. SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on April 12, 2014. 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.
Gallery
File:FirstNationalDetroit.jpg|View looking east across Woodward Avenue; the Mabley and Company Buildings and Vinton Building are at the right
File:1stnationalbldgDetroit.jpg|View from Campus Martius
File:1stnationalBldgDetroitnightview.jpg|View from Campus Martius at night
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- {{Cite book | author1=Hill, Eric J. | author2=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 }}
- {{Cite book | author=Meyer, Katherine Mattingly and Martin C.P. McElroy with Introduction by W. Hawkins Ferry, Hon A.I.A. | title=Detroit Architecture A.I.A. Guide Revised Edition | year=1980 | publisher=Wayne State University Press | isbn=0-8143-1651-4 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/detroitarchitect0000unse }}
- {{Cite book | author=Sharoff, Robert | author-link=Robert Sharoff | title=American City: Detroit Architecture | publisher=Wayne State University Press | year=2005 | isbn=0-8143-3270-6}}
External links
- [http://www.firstnationalbuilding.com/ First National Building official site]
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20040920142535/http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=118557 First National Building at Emporis.com]}}
{{Downtown Detroit}}
{{Architecture of metropolitan Detroit}}
{{National Register of Historic Places listings in Wayne County, Michigan}}
Category:Bank buildings in Michigan
Category:Skyscraper office buildings in Detroit
Category:Office buildings completed in 1930
Category:Office buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Michigan
Category:National Register of Historic Places in Detroit
Category:Historic district contributing properties in Michigan