The detroit restoration project includes the 38story book tower and adjoining story book building. May 19, 2012 book tower, as seen from the roof of the bookcadillac hotel. The book reads a lot like detroits historyslow yet building over the citys first. Hawkins ferry the book about buildings in detroit though it can be kind of hard to find. Some called architect louis kamper a cake decorator because of all the stuff he crammed onto his buildings. The book tower has been a landmark on detroit s skyline for nearly 100 years. Contact us or stop in to discuss your new apartment. We chose books that were about or feature detroit, but not. Weve seen the exterior of the book tower transform this summer. The curbed video team recently stopped by the book tower to get a closer view of the restoration of the building and its ornamentation. Completed in 1926 by the legendary louis kamper, this italian renaissance building towers at 475 feetone of detroits tallest and oldest skyscrapers. This list of tallest buildings in detroit ranks skyscrapers and high rises in the u. Book tower renovation tour in detroit gives glimpse inside.
Part of the tour group makes its way from the second to the first floor to continue their two hour tour of the book tower in downtown detroit, michigan on saturday, september 7, 2019. The ornamentation in particular the columns, florets, and figureson. The book tower, as seen from the roof of the wurlitzer building. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. An iconic symbol of the citys glory years, book tower in detroit is being given a top to bottom restoration that promises to turn this onetime downtown office building into a mixeduse. For decades, it was the citys most opulent hotel and after nearly 25 years of abandonment and blight has reclaimed its throne. The buildings history, like much of the citys historic architecture, begins in the 1920s. The book is a cleareyed look at the sources of his hometowns woes, an assessment of its. The book building was completed in 1916, and the adjacent book tower a decade later in 1926. Book building old photos book tower and book building. The book is an extremely readable story of one of the greatest cities of the us and one of its greatest failures as well. We peeked inside the tower and the adjacent book building to see whats to come. Detroits historic book tower being restored to serve mixed uses. The book reads a lot like detroit s history slow yet building over the citys first two centuries.
Book tower completed in 1926 by the legendary louis kamper, this italian renaissance building towers at 475 feetone of detroit s tallest and oldest skyscrapers. At 475 feet tall, the book tower would lay claim to the title of tallest building in town. Detroits historic book tower being restored to serve. The westin book cadillac detroit is a historic skyscraper hotel located at 1114 washington boulevard in downtown detroit, michigan, within the washington boulevard historic district. The 36story book tower opened in 1926 on the southwest corner of grand river avenue and washington, coincidentally, the original lot that the books grandfather had bought on the boulevard. Book tower restoration to feature hotel, retail, office. The book tower has been an iconic part of detroit s skyline for nearly a century, and throughout the meticulous exterior restoration process it became clear we needed to partner with an. One highlight of the restoration will be the historic steel and glass skylight in. The book tower in detroit, mi shot with a phantom 4 uas drone with a few still frames taken during the flight.
The book tower building is seen from the top of the penobscot building in downtown detroit on wednesday feb. The 1926 building hadnt been power washed in decades, and the louis kamperdesigned building looks so much better. The caryatids of book tower detroit, michigan atlas. As part of the detroit month of design, bedrock detroit offered a rare glimpse inside the book tower and building, leading a tour of more than 100 guests on saturday, september 7. The building at the corner of washington boulevard and grand river has a long history, and is one of the most ornate exteriors in the city of detroit, and possibly the united states. Jun 16, 2017 book tower old photos historic detroit.
The plan right now calls for 180,000 square feet of office and retail space, along with 95 residential units. The book tower has been a landmark on detroits skyline for nearly 100 years. Designed in the neorenaissance style, and constructed as the book cadillac, it is part of westin hotels and embodies neoclassical elements and building sculpture, incorporating brick and limestone. Ryan garza detroit free press connect tweet linkedin comment email more. Flying around the book tower building with a dji phantom 3 professional. The ornate book tower, designed by renowned architect louis kamper, is an impressive work of italian renaissance architecture. Currently under restoration, this 38story landmark will offer a boutique hotel, office space, groundfloor retail and private living. The iconic book tower has long been an integral part of the detroit skyline. Designed in the academic classicism style, it is 475 feet 145 m and 38 stories tall not including two basement levels, with two mechanical floors at the top encasing the green. Comprehensive in its scope and written by one of the citys. The book tower is a 475foot tall, thirtyeight story skyscraper located on washington boulevard in downtown detroit. The book tower is a 145 m 476 ft, 38story skyscraper located at 1265 washington boulevard in downtown detroit, michigan, within the.
Watching a tiger game from 480ft in the air on the roof of detroit s tallest abandoned blgd is awesome. Rendering of the restored book tower atrium, detroit, michigan. Sep 29, 2018 book tower, detroit was abandoned, set to reopen 2019. Went down to detroit for the day, explored throughout 6 different abandoned buildings and decided to check out the abandoned book tower skyscraper. Renderings for detroits book tower renovation released. The book tower is a 145 m 476 ft, 38story skyscraper located at 1265 washington boulevard in downtown detroit, michigan, within the washington boulevard historic district. The tallest skyscraper in detroit is the 73story detroit marriott at the renaissance center, which rises 727 feet 222 m along detroit s international riverfront.
Book tower the book tower is a 475foot tall, thirtyeight story skyscraper located on washington boulevard in downtown detroit. Discover the caryatids of book tower in detroit, michigan. Completed in 1926, the book tower is a key anchor of one of detroit s downtown historic districts located on washington boulevard, between clifford street and michigan avenue. It turns out when the exterior gets a deep cleaning its intricate art that sits high above the city streets comes to. The stately stonefaced structure, like most of the buildings on the boulevard, was designed by louis kamper, the books architect of choice. The book cadillac glistens above washington boulevard, a towering symbol of detroit s latest attempts at a renaissance. The book brothers, who had already made their mark on detroit s skyline with the book building, book tower, and book cadillac hotel, sought to further cement their legacy by building a grand monument.
Bedrock hires architect for book tower restoration, hosts. For years the book tower was ridiculed as one of detroits ugliest buildings. The building was the citys tallest upon its completion, but only until 1928 with the completion of the penobscot building. The abandoned book tower is a skyscraper in the washington boulevard historic district of detroit. An unbuilt second tower of 81 stories was proposed on the south end of the complex, but was killed by the great depression. Book tower abandoned detroit, detroit history, detroit. Now, an ongoing adaptive reuse project by detroit real estate company bedrock and new york city architectural firm oda has ensured the nearly centuryold, 38story tower a second life, one destined to further energize the motor citys. Now, an ongoing adaptive reuse project by detroit real estate company bedrock and new york city architectural firm oda. Book tower restoration to feature hotel, retail, office space. A book chronicling the fascinating and disturbing history of slavery in early detroit. The book tower, as seen from the roof of the bookcadillac hotel. Construction began in 1916 as an addition to the original book building, and finished a decade later in 1926. Much like the talented bak, who makes 20th century detroit his wheelhouse, in hidden history of detroit, young author amy elliott bragg draws on detroit s other two centuries to spin engaging tales of a city undisturbed by horseless carriages but often just as chaotic. The book tower is an italian renaissance revival style highrise tower in detroit, michigan.
207 98 638 513 1452 1064 1044 816 1054 1245 1074 1421 720 973 710 430 1353 792 1387 1083 1070 243 437 1556 617 961 192 182 169 500 289 664 527 1352 362 1155 490 449 846 365 1410 584 1237