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32-440: The Detroit Free Press Building is an office building designed by Albert Kahn Associates in downtown Detroit , Michigan . Construction began in 1924 and was completed in 1925. The high-rise building contains 302,400 sq ft (28,090 m) on 14 above-ground and two basement levels. The building features Art Deco detailing, and is a steel-frame structure faced with limestone . Its design features stepped massing in

64-658: A job at the architectural business of Mason and Rice where he got his initial architectural training, working primarily on residences and bank buildings. In 1891, at age 22, Kahn won a Rotch Traveling Fellowship to study in Europe, where he toured Germany, France, Italy, and Belgium with fellow student Henry Bacon , who later designed the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Kahn married Ernestine Krolik in 1896 and they had four children. Ernestine would later briefly serve as

96-584: A patent on the "Kahn System" of construction in 1903, Julius left Kahn's firm and established the Trussed Concrete Steel Company , or Truscon, to market the product. Reinforced concrete allowed for much larger open spaces within factory interiors not obtainable with conventional wood construction and at a lower cost than steel frame construction. Concrete had other beneficial characteristics, such as far better protection from fire and greater load-bearing capacity. By 1905, hundreds of buildings within

128-504: A talent for the visual arts and music. Kahn had four brothers, including Moritz, who became an engineer, and Julius Kahn , an engineer and inventor, who later collaborated with him in his architectural firm. They also had two sisters, one of whom, Mollie Kahn Fuchs, who later worked closely with Julius to create a type of reinforced concrete that would later be patented. When the family immigrated to America, Kahn quickly learned English and went to Detroit public schools. In 1883, he got

160-530: A vice president in her husband's business, and often helped him with color and fabric selection in designs. Kahn left Mason and Rice in 1895, entering into a partnership with Alexander B. Trowbridge and George W. Nettleton known as Nettleton, Kahn & Trowbridge. In 1902, Kahn formed a partnership with his brother Julius, a civil engineer. Later that year, Julius developed a novel and scientific method of reinforcing concrete with steel, making reinforced concrete construction practical and economical. After receiving

192-568: The Ford River Rouge Complex , and many buildings on the campus of the University of Michigan . He points out that what was modern in 1920, like his automobile factories that he built between 1900 and 1920 were obsolete by 1990s standards and were being torn down. Some of his other buildings at that time no longer served the purpose for which they were constructed and were being remodeled for other uses. George D. Mason George Mason

224-660: The Franklin Institute posthumously awarded Kahn the Frank P. Brown Medal . Kahn was born on March 21, 1869, to a Jewish family in Rhaunen , in the Kingdom of Prussia , today in Germany. He received his early education in the school of Luxembourg . At age twelve in 1881, Kahn immigrated with his family to Detroit , Michigan. His father Joseph was trained as a rabbi; his mother Rosalie had

256-530: The General Motors building , at the time of its completion in 1922, the second largest office building in the world. His work was part of the architecture event in the art competition at the 1928 Summer Olympics . Henry Ford became interested in Kahn's unique designs that showed many benefits. Ford had Kahn design Ford Motor Company 's Highland Park Ford Plant in 1909, for developing production techniques in

288-685: The George O. Robinson House and the Detroit Public Library . One of the first buildings in which Mason received equal billing for the design was the Ransom Gillis House . In 1878 he joined with Zachariah Rice to form the firm Mason & Rice. This partnership lasted until 1898, after which time Mason continued his practice alone. Mason married Ida Whitaker in 1882, and they had one daughter. From 1884 until 1896 Albert Kahn worked with Mason and Rice, and he returned to partner with Mason for

320-579: The assembly line of manufacturing the Ford Model T on a large scale. In 1917, Kahn designed the half-mile-long Ford River Rouge Complex in Dearborn, Michigan . That factory complex was developed into the largest manufacturing cluster of plants in the United States and later the largest industrial manufacturer in the world with a workforce of 120,000 employees. Kahn also designed many of what are considered

352-875: The 75th anniversary of the architectural firm which was founded by Kahn. Many of Detroit's leading industrialists who work in the buildings designed by Kahn were present at the celebration. A staff writer for the Times Herald newspaper in 1970 wrote that Kahn was often called the father of industrial architecture. He was referred to as Architect of the Colossal by Reader's Digest magazine. The science museum Franklin Institute in Philadelphia recognized him as an architectural pioneer and awarded him their gold medal. The American Institute of Architects awarded him two of their gold medals in his lifetime. The staff writer estimated that Kahn

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384-653: The Albert Kahn Library Collection, is housed at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield , Michigan. The Archives of American Art at the Smithsonian house most of the family's correspondence and other materials. The life and works of Kahn were celebrated in an exhibition of photographs, drawings, and models at the Detroit Institute of Arts from September 15 to November 1, 1970. It commemorated

416-692: The Soviet Union. Under these contracts, during 1929 to 1932 and the Great Depression , Kahn's firm established a design and training bureau in Moscow to train and supervise Soviet architects and engineers. This bureau, under the government's Gosproektstroi , was headed by Moritz Kahn and 25 others of Kahn Associates staff, who worked in Moscow during this project. They trained more than 4,000 Soviet architects and engineers; and designed 521 plants and factories under

448-902: The U.S., $ 486,936, of which he paid 72% in tax. Kahn worked on more than 1,000 commissions from Henry Ford and hundreds from other automakers. Kahn designed showrooms for Ford Motor Company in several cities, including New York , Washington, D.C., and Boston . As of 2020, approximately 60 Kahn buildings were listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Five of these (the Fisher Building , Ford River Rouge complex , Edsel and Eleanor Ford House , General Motors Building , and Highland Park Ford Plant ) were designated National Historic Landmarks . Not all of Kahn's works have been preserved. Cass Technical High School in Detroit, designed by Malcomson and Higginbotham and built by Kahn's firm in 1922,

480-676: The United States were being constructed using the Kahn System, including the first reinforced concrete automobile plant, completed for the Cadillac Motor Car Company at 450 Amsterdam Street in TechTown , Detroit. Julius Kahn collaborated with his brother on the design of many industrial projects throughout the US constructed with reinforced concrete, particularly automobile factories, with the result that Kahn became widely known for his expertise in

512-416: The central tower and flanking wings. When constructed, the building housed editorial and business offices for the paper as well as printing facilities and rental space. The building is adorned with bas-relief figures, sculpted by Ulysses A. Ricci , symbolizing commerce and communication. The building, located at 321 West Lafayette, was unoccupied from 1998, when the newspaper offices moved, to 2020, when it

544-548: The city. Kahn led an organization of hundreds of architect associates, and in 1937 designed 19% of all architect-designed industrial factories in the United States. Under a unique contract in 1929, he established a design and training office in Moscow, sending twenty-five staff there to train Soviet architects and engineers, and to design hundreds of industrial buildings under their first five-year plan . They trained more than 4,000 architects and engineers using Kahn's concepts. In 1943,

576-661: The classic buildings of the University of Michigan in the city of Ann Arbor . These include Angell Hall , Burton Memorial Tower , Hill Auditorium , Hatcher Graduate Library , and William L. Clements Library . Kahn said later in life that, of all the buildings he designed, he wanted most to be remembered for his work on the William L. Clements Library. Kahn frequently collaborated with architectural sculptor Corrado Parducci . In all, Parducci worked on about 50 Kahn commissions, including banks, office buildings, newspaper buildings, mausoleums, hospitals, and private residences. Kahn's firm

608-641: The construction of concrete industrial structures. Kahn was also responsible for designing many of the buildings and houses built under the direction of the Hiram Walker family in Walkerville, Ontario , including Willistead Manor . Kahn's interest in historically styled buildings is also seen in his houses in Detroit's Indian Village , the Cranbrook House, the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House , and The Dearborn Inn ,

640-475: The nation's first five-year plan . Below is a selected list of buildings designed by Kahn. All are located in Detroit unless otherwise indicated. Below are University of Michigan campus structures built during Kahn's career. Greek Organization Buildings: Kahn died in Detroit on December 8, 1942. Many of his personal working papers and construction photographs are housed at University of Michigan's Bentley History Library . His personal working library,

672-758: The newspaper moved its offices to the building Albert Kahn designed for The Detroit News at 615 West Lafayette. Because the News Building is only three stories, it is constructed of reinforced concrete and faced with concrete fashioned to look like stone. When the Free Press offices moved into the building, they occupied the southern portion and used the address of 600 West Fort Street while The News used its long-time address of 615 West Lafayette. In February 2014, both newspapers announced their intent to move to another facility which would be more suited to their current needs. Several redevelopment plans were proposed during

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704-615: The office designed the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant , and the Willow Run Bomber Plant, Kahn's last building, located in Ypsilanti, Michigan . The Ford Motor Company mass-produced Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers here. In 1937, Albert Kahn Associates was responsible for 19% of all architect-designed industrial factories in the United States. In 1941, Kahn received the eighth-highest salary and compensation package in

736-605: The time the building was vacant. None of these were successful. In September 2016, billionaire developer Dan Gilbert bought the property, through Pyramid Development Co, LLC, for a reported $ 8.425 million. Throughout the next four years, the building was redeveloped into a mixed-use project with 8,000 square feet of retail space, 55,000 square feet of office space, and 105 new apartments. The building, renamed "The Press/321", began leasing in September 2020. Albert Kahn Associates Albert Kahn (March 21, 1869 – December 8, 1942)

768-418: The works of Kahn, one by W. Hawkins Ferry the architectural writer and Honorary Curator of Architecture at the Detroit Institute of Arts and another written by Walter B. Sanders as a Professor of Architecture at the University of Michigan . Detroit Free Press writer and historian John Gallagher notes that Kahn produced 1900 buildings, among them being the Fisher Building , the General Motors headquarters,

800-565: The world's first airport hotel. Kahn's firm designed the Art Deco Fisher Building in Detroit's New Center area, a 28-story designated landmark. In 1929, the building was awarded a silver medal by the Architectural League of New York in the category of the year's most beautiful commercial building. From 1917 to 1929, Kahn's firm also designed the corporate headquarters for all three of the major Detroit daily newspapers and

832-450: Was able to adapt to the changing needs of World War I and designed numerous army airfields and naval bases for the United States government during the war. During World War II , Kahn and his firm were in charge of several of the U.S. government's important construction projects that included aeronautical and tank arsenal plants. His 600-person office was involved in making Detroit industry part of America's Arsenal of Democracy . Among others,

864-544: Was an American architect noted for his collaborations with his brother Julius in designing industrial plant complexes such as the Ford River Rouge automobile complex . Based in Detroit, he also designed skyscrapers, office buildings, and mansions in the city and suburbs, as well as many buildings at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor . Kahn has been called the "architect of Detroit" as the designer of nearly 900 buildings in

896-494: Was born in Syracuse, New York , the son of James H. and Zelda E. Mason. In 1870 the family moved to Detroit, where Mason received his early education. Mason began his architectural career working for Detroit architect Hugh Smith in 1875, but this only lasted a summer. After this he moved to the firm of Henry T. Brush , where he worked for the first nine months without pay. Mason started out assigned to some specific detailing work on

928-433: Was demolished in 2011, after vandals had stripped it of most of its fixtures. The Donovan Building, later occupied by Motown Records , was abandoned for decades and deteriorated. The city demolished it as part of its beautification plan before the 2006 Super Bowl XL . In Kalamazoo , Michigan, the Kahn designed Checker Cab Manufacturing plant was shuttered following the bankruptcy of Checker Motors Corporation , in 2009. It

960-644: Was leveled in 2015. Fifteen Kahn buildings are recognized by official Michigan historical markers: On May 8, 1929, through an agreement signed with Kahn by Saul G. Bron , President of Amtorg , the Soviet government contracted Albert Kahn Associates to help design the Stalingrad Tractor Plant , the first tractor plant in the USSR . On January 9, 1930, a second contract with Kahn was signed for his firm to become consulting architects for all industrial construction in

992-487: Was redeveloped as an apartment building. It was formerly the home of the Detroit Free Press , and while occupied by the newspaper, displayed large neon signs of the newspaper logo on its roof facing north and south. Printing facilities for the newspaper occupied the lower floors of the building until 1979, when a new production facility opened approximately one-mile southwest at 1801 West Jefferson Avenue. In 1989,

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1024-429: Was the architect of two billion dollars worth of structures before his death in 1942. The committee on science and arts of the Detroit Institute of Arts noted that none of Kahn's discoveries were ever patented, but instead were placed in the hands of architects and engineers engaged in construction during World Wars I and II. The 184 page catalogue put in book form called The Legacy of Albert Kahn consists of two essays on

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