[Allan]

It's about time they decided to light up the Guardian Building at night! Downtown is way too dark at night. It shouldn't be, given all the great skyscrapers. Now if they could just do something about Comerica Tower....

Developers Reclaim Guardian’s Glory

By Byron Pope
Staff Reporter

When Detroit was burgeoning with the wealth of an automotive industry coming in to its own, buildings of all different size and stature began to dot the skyline. One of the most ornate and architecturally significant structures of that era is the Guardian Building on Congress and Griswold.

Built in 1928, the building was originally called The Union Trust. Wirt Rowland, the building’s architect, never received the same accolades as his contemporary Albert Kahn. Nevertheless, Rowland was a brilliant architect, and was responsible for some of Detroit’s most significant structures, including the Buhl Building, Penobscot Building and Music Hall.

The Guardian Building is a prime example of the Art Deco craze of the time. Rowland was meticulous in the level of detail he applied to the building, including extensive use of marble, wood and ceramics provided by Mary Chase Stratton, best known as the founder of Pewabic Pottery.

Unfortunately, Union Trust Co. succumbed to the stock market crash of 1929, and later reorganized as the Union Guardian Trust Company.

In 1942, the building was taken over by the U.S. Army, which eventually sold it at auction in 1952. In 1975, the Guardian Building was sold to Michigan Consolidated, which occupied the building until it was bought by Sterling Group Real Estate late last year.

The goal of the New York-based Sterling Group is to restore the 40-story Guardian to its former glory. Although much of the architecture remains intact, modern additions, such as dropped ceilings and carpeting, were removed to uncover original marble floors and ornate design work.

“After MichCon moved out, we took over the building, and since that time we’ve had an aggressive campaign from a leasing standpoint to an improvement standpoint,” said Danny Samson, vice president, Brokerage, Sterling Group Real Estate. “We’ve restored the floors, all the marble, and the metal. All of the building’s amenities have been completely upgraded. We’re also doing some strong improvements to the exterior stonework and an exterior lighting plan that will be extremely extravagant, probably one of the best in the city in terms of highlighting a building.”

The Sterling Group is well on its way to restoring the building, and it’s paying dividends. In a downtown office space market that is less than stellar, the company has already added a slew of new tenants.

On the ground floor of the building is a large promenade area, which formerly housed one of the building’s tenants. At the urging of the Sterling Group, the tenant moved its offices to another floor, freeing up the space for development.

“The retail promenade is really one of the best features of the building. Previously it wasn’t available to the public. One of the important things that we’re trying to do is bring this landmark building back to the city and back in the public hands so people can come and enjoy it,” Samson said.

The retail area is already completely leased. Tenants include a major bank, a cafe, a coffee shop, and a Pure Detroit store, which specializes in Detroit-made products.

Sterling Group is installing a history kiosk in the promenade, which will provide visitors with a tutorial of the building’s past.

In addition to the architectural restoration, the Sterling Group is attempting to recreate the era in which the Guardian was built. Plans call for jazz and other types of music to by piped in, and the Group has already hired a full-time, uniformed doorman that greets visitors.

The Guardian Building is just one of many downtown buildings being restored.

Over the years, skeptics have downplayed any city-wide restoration initiatives, but some of those involved with the downtown area think this time is different.

Lynette Boyle, asset development, Sterling Group Real Estate, has been involved in managing and development various companies over the past 12 years.

“What I’m seeing downtown is a lot of people with fresh new ideas, a lot of young people that have had some time to travel around and see what other cities are doing and we’re starting to see some of them come back wanting to put those things in place in this city,” Boyle said.

“So you’re seeing more loft developments, more historical preservation going on and mixed use. And, we’re starting to see funds for these kind of projects. I think there is sort of a renewed faith that these types of projects can work because they are working in other cities,” she said.

http://www.usautoscene.com/detas.html

[Ivory Tower]

That's great news for the Gaurdian.
Didn't realize the same person designed that and the Penobscott and Buhl.

[Allan]

Yep. Wirt Rowland is the forgotten architect.

http://www.wirtrowland.org

There is an exhibit about him going on right now. I've heard that it's very good, but I haven't gotten down there to see it yet.

He designed:
Buhl Building
Guardian Building
Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church
Louis Marie School
Penobscot Building

and also Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor.