First National Building

For First National Bank Building, see First National Bank Building.

First National Building
General information
Type	office
Location	660 Woodward Ave. Detroit, Michigan United States
Completed	1930
Technical details
Floor count	26
Design and construction
Architect	Albert Kahn
First National Building
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
Location:	660 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan
Coordinates:	42°19′51.7″N 83°2′45.2″W
Governing body:	Private
Part of:	Detroit Financial District (#09001067)
Designated CP:	December 14, 2009

The First National Building is an skycraper and class-A office center in downtown Detroit, Michigan. Completed in 1930, the structure rises 25 stories and includes two basement levels, occupying an entire block along Cadillac Square (adjacent to Campus Martius Park). Located within the Detroit Financial District, the tower's main uses are for offices and retail. It was constructed primarily with limestone. The building was designed by Albert Kahn in the Neoclassical architectural style. It has an unusual "Z" shape, designed so that most offices would have natural light and ventilation. The building is located across the streets from Cadillac Tower and Comerica Tower, and stands next to the Vinton Building. It is 341 feet (104 m) tall.

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 west 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.

References

• Hill, Eric J. and John Gallagher (2002). AIA Detroit: The American Institute of Architects Guide to Detroit Architecture. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-3120-3. 
• Meyer, Katherine Mattingly and Martin C.P. McElroy with Introduction by W. Hawkins Ferry, Hon A.I.A. (1980). Detroit Architecture A.I.A. Guide Revised Edition. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-1651-4. 
• Sharoff, Robert (2005). American City: Detroit Architecture. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-3270-6. 

Photo gallery

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  View looking east across Woodward Avenue; the Mabley and Company Buildings and Vinton Building are at the right

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  View from Campus Martius

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  View from Campus Martius at night.

External links

• First National Building official site
• First National Building at Emporis.com
• SkyscraperPage.com's Profile on the First National Building