1001 Woodward
Encyclopedia
1001 Woodward is a mixed-use skyscraper in downtown Detroit, Michigan
. The building is located just south of the neighboring David Stott Building
, at the corner of Woodward Avenue and Michigan Avenue overlooking Campus Martius Park
. Constructed from 1963 to 1965, the 25 story building is designed in the International style
.
The exterior facade is composed of tinted windows set precast frames covered with charcoal-gray granite. The frames project from the facade creating a grid design similar to nearby 211 West Fort Street
. The structure is composed of two rectangular towers set at a right-angle and joined by an elevator-utility core covered in glass and matching gray granite. This arrangement of the towers help it make the best use of its irregularly shaped lot. Floors 24 and 25 house mechanical equipment and the two-story ground floor originally housed a banking room and convenience store. The floors and interior lobby walls were originally faced with white marble. The building occupies the site of the Majestic Building, which was demolished in 1962 to make way for 1001 Woodward.
The building was constructed to house headquarters for First Federal Savings and Loan of Detroit and was known as the First Federal Building. By January 1998, the Savings and Loan was part of Charter One Financial and the parent company sought to sell the structure and lease a portion back. In December of that year, it was purchased by a partnership of The Carpenters Pension Trust Fund-Detroit & Vicinity and the Operating Engineers Local 324 Pension Fund for $6.5 million. As part of the sale, Charter One leased the ground floor, two office floors and the basement. The Michigan Court of Appeals occupied two floors under a lease which ended in 2001. The court relocated to Cadillac Place
with several other State of Michigan offices.
In March 1999, the pension fund partnership announced a $15 million renovation of the building and a new name-Woodward Plaza. They also planned to convert the upper floors to luxury condominiums.
The pension fund partnership sold the building to Sky Development in April 1994 after spending $20 million on renovations. Sky Development also purchased an adjacent parcel behind the building to construct a parking garage.
Sky Development continued the pension funds' plan to convert part of the building into 144 residential units, however this plan collapsed at the end of 2007 and ownership reverted to the pension funds. The building and adjacent parking garage were subsequently purchased by Greektown
business owner Dimitrios Papas in January 2008 and renovations were completed. In May 2010, GalaxE IT systems signed a lease for 28000 square feet (2,601.3 m²) bringing the occupancy to 25 percent. In September 2010, GalaxE leased an additional 12000 square feet (1,114.8 m²).
The building's architect, Smith, Hinchman, & Grylls, was recognized with an Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects
in 1967.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. The building is located just south of the neighboring David Stott Building
David Stott Building
The David Stott Building is an Art Deco skyscraper in downtown Detroit, Michigan designed by the architectural firm of Donaldson and Meier. It is a class-A office building constructed in 1929 at the corner of Griswold Street and State Street , a part of the Capitol Park Historic District...
, at the corner of Woodward Avenue and Michigan Avenue overlooking Campus Martius Park
Campus Martius Park
Campus Martius Park is a re-established park in downtown Detroit, Michigan. After the fire of 1805, Campus Martius was the focal point of judge Augustus Woodward's plans to rebuild the city. It is where the "point of origin" of Detroit's coordinate system is located...
. Constructed from 1963 to 1965, the 25 story building is designed in the International style
International style (architecture)
The International style is a major architectural style that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, the formative decades of Modern architecture. The term originated from the name of a book by Henry-Russell Hitchcock and Philip Johnson, The International Style...
.
The exterior facade is composed of tinted windows set precast frames covered with charcoal-gray granite. The frames project from the facade creating a grid design similar to nearby 211 West Fort Street
211 West Fort Street
211 West Fort Street is a skyscraper in Detroit, Michigan. Standing at 27 stories, construction began in 1961 and it was occupied in 1963. The building stands at the southeast corner of Fort Street and Washington Boulevard...
. The structure is composed of two rectangular towers set at a right-angle and joined by an elevator-utility core covered in glass and matching gray granite. This arrangement of the towers help it make the best use of its irregularly shaped lot. Floors 24 and 25 house mechanical equipment and the two-story ground floor originally housed a banking room and convenience store. The floors and interior lobby walls were originally faced with white marble. The building occupies the site of the Majestic Building, which was demolished in 1962 to make way for 1001 Woodward.
The building was constructed to house headquarters for First Federal Savings and Loan of Detroit and was known as the First Federal Building. By January 1998, the Savings and Loan was part of Charter One Financial and the parent company sought to sell the structure and lease a portion back. In December of that year, it was purchased by a partnership of The Carpenters Pension Trust Fund-Detroit & Vicinity and the Operating Engineers Local 324 Pension Fund for $6.5 million. As part of the sale, Charter One leased the ground floor, two office floors and the basement. The Michigan Court of Appeals occupied two floors under a lease which ended in 2001. The court relocated to Cadillac Place
Cadillac Place
Cadillac Place is an ornate high-rise class-A office complex in the New Center area of Detroit, Michigan constructed of steel, limestone, granite, and marble between 1919 and 1923 and was listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1985. The building houses several agencies of the State of Michigan...
with several other State of Michigan offices.
In March 1999, the pension fund partnership announced a $15 million renovation of the building and a new name-Woodward Plaza. They also planned to convert the upper floors to luxury condominiums.
The pension fund partnership sold the building to Sky Development in April 1994 after spending $20 million on renovations. Sky Development also purchased an adjacent parcel behind the building to construct a parking garage.
Sky Development continued the pension funds' plan to convert part of the building into 144 residential units, however this plan collapsed at the end of 2007 and ownership reverted to the pension funds. The building and adjacent parking garage were subsequently purchased by Greektown
Greektown
Greektown is a colloquial English language term used to describe neighborhoods that consist primarily of Greek residents and Greek-themed organizations and businesses.- History :...
business owner Dimitrios Papas in January 2008 and renovations were completed. In May 2010, GalaxE IT systems signed a lease for 28000 square feet (2,601.3 m²) bringing the occupancy to 25 percent. In September 2010, GalaxE leased an additional 12000 square feet (1,114.8 m²).
The building's architect, Smith, Hinchman, & Grylls, was recognized with an Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
in 1967.
External links
Education
The lofts are zoned to Detroit Public SchoolsDetroit Public Schools
Detroit Public Schools is a school district that covers all of the city of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The student population of the Detroit Public Schools is about 65,971 , which is down about 9.7% from the previous school year. Detroit Public Charter Schools educate an additional 56,000...
- Burton International School (K-8)
- Murray-Wright High School