Mpow Member Username: Mpow
Post Number: 265 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Sunday, July 08, 2007 - 2:37 am: | |
http://www.flickr.com/photos/l ocaburg/750867437/ |
Wolverine Member Username: Wolverine
Post Number: 343 Registered: 04-2004
| Posted on Sunday, July 08, 2007 - 2:43 am: | |
Security light maybe? Last year you'd see a good number of lights left on in the building when it was wide open: http://farm1.static.flickr.com /78/167184248_8b70fe5175_b.jpg |
Southen Member Username: Southen
Post Number: 231 Registered: 08-2006
| Posted on Sunday, July 08, 2007 - 3:10 am: | |
Yeah I recall several lit up areas in that building when I was in there. |
Lizaanne Member Username: Lizaanne
Post Number: 96 Registered: 06-2007
| Posted on Sunday, July 08, 2007 - 9:38 am: | |
Wow!!! What a beautiful thing! I've never seen the inside before! GORGEOUS!! ~Liza |
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul
Post Number: 1288 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Sunday, July 08, 2007 - 5:52 pm: | |
Yeah it is arguable one of the best neoclassical interiors in downtown Detroit and it does not hurt to have good photographers taking the pictures. http://www.flickr.com/photos/a llanm/161025108/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/s outhen/159041761/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/j oeyharrison/410999454/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/s tatlerhotel/549055942/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/s outhen/159042695/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/j oeyharrison/410999445/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/s outhen/159041089/ |
Jb3 Member Username: Jb3
Post Number: 147 Registered: 06-2007
| Posted on Sunday, July 08, 2007 - 5:57 pm: | |
WOW!!!! multi-level retail anyone??? |
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner
Post Number: 1301 Registered: 04-2006
| Posted on Sunday, July 08, 2007 - 6:44 pm: | |
Louis Sullivan (famous Chicago Architect and teacher of Frank Lloyd Wright) did this building, as well as the Dime. |
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie
Post Number: 1064 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Sunday, July 08, 2007 - 7:36 pm: | |
Actually, Daniel Burnham designed the David Whitney and the Dime Bldgs., as well as the Ford Bldg. (source: AIA Guide to Detroit). He also designed the Majestic Bldg., demolished ca. 1961. Most of the exterior detail was stripped from the David Whitney Building in a "refurbishing," ca. 1959. |
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie
Post Number: 1065 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Sunday, July 08, 2007 - 7:45 pm: | |
Actually, I should say that the Daniel Burnham *organization* likely designed the David Whitney, since he died three years before it was completed. But it certainly follows his style. |
Wolverine Member Username: Wolverine
Post Number: 344 Registered: 04-2004
| Posted on Sunday, July 08, 2007 - 11:48 pm: | |
"Most of the exterior detail was stripped from the David Whitney Building in a "refurbishing," ca. 1959." Yeah, I have this incredible historic photo of the Whitney back then. Entirely different building. The exterior is hardly similar to what it looks like today. |
Gistok Member Username: Gistok
Post Number: 4768 Registered: 08-2004
| Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 12:01 am: | |
Same thing happened to the Michigan Mutual Building across GCP (tallest building on W. Adams). It used to have 4 Beaux Arts style corner pavilions on the rooftop back in the days when it was the Stroh's HQ., before WWII. |
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul
Post Number: 1300 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 8:51 am: | |
"The evolution of culture marches with the elimination of ornament from useful objects"--Adolf Loos |
Vintagesoul Member Username: Vintagesoul
Post Number: 17 Registered: 06-2007
| Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 9:27 am: | |
Wolverine, can you post that glorious photo? I would love to see... I had no idea that it looked like that inside because the outside looks so plain. I have always wanted to go exploring...soso bad. Mostly because there seems to be so much beauty inside of these buildings that I don't get to see because they are abandoned. One of the posts under the pictures of the lobby (on flickr) someone said "Unfortunately, there is no punishment for crimes against architecture." I couldn't agree with that statement more. Sometimes I drive around the city and wonder how different it would be downtown if even 65% of the buildings were occupied. *sigh* |
Bob Member Username: Bob
Post Number: 1510 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 10:21 am: | |
At one time there was a security guard in the building, which is what you can attribute the lights on and off from. Although I thought I heard recently that there is no longer a security guard. |
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner
Post Number: 1303 Registered: 04-2006
| Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 10:28 am: | |
Whoops!! Burnsie, I guess I should have checked my book before I spouted off that, there was something about what I was saying that did not seem 'W'right. |
Civilprotectionunit4346 Member Username: Civilprotectionunit4346
Post Number: 165 Registered: 06-2007
| Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 11:26 am: | |
Got a couple of D' Whitney photos for you all... http://www.flickr.com/photos/j ohn74/393254860/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/j ohn74/393254857/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/j ohn74/393254854/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/j ohn74/393254853/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/j ohn74/393254851/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/j ohn74/393249005/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/j ohn74/393249000/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/j ohn74/393248996/ |
Bijouloveshues Member Username: Bijouloveshues
Post Number: 5 Registered: 07-2007
| Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 11:33 am: | |
weren't Burnham and Sullivan partners? (Devil in the White City trivia) Regardless, it's a beautiful space! |
Bijouloveshues Member Username: Bijouloveshues
Post Number: 6 Registered: 07-2007
| Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 11:41 am: | |
You know, Chicago gets the design/ architecture recognition in the midwest, but Detroit is where most of the great ones were from or studied... Eero Saarinen and the Eames' to name a couple and Mies has his touch here too. Awareness and preservation are the only way we will be able to hold on to the gems that we have. |
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul
Post Number: 1302 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 12:40 pm: | |
Bijouloveshues, be careful not to over simplify your statement. There is a whole architecture style named after Chicago ("Chicago School"). Detroit certainly does have more than it fair share of great architecture, but Chicago is the example for the midwest. |
Wolverine Member Username: Wolverine
Post Number: 345 Registered: 04-2004
| Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 1:09 pm: | |
"Wolverine, can you post that glorious photo? I would love to see... I had no idea that it looked like that inside because the outside looks so plain. " Definitely will. I'll try and see if I can scan it this evening. |
Detroit_stylin Member Username: Detroit_stylin
Post Number: 4403 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 3:07 pm: | |
Damn i forgot how the inside of the Whitney looked. I used to love going in there in the 90's when the secretary of state had an office in the on the Washington Boulevard side... When exactly did it completley become vacant? |
Kid_dynamite Member Username: Kid_dynamite
Post Number: 102 Registered: 06-2007
| Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 3:18 pm: | |
wow! I had no idea the inside of that building is so beautiful. What a gem that would be if it was completely restored. |
Gistok Member Username: Gistok
Post Number: 4777 Registered: 08-2004
| Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 3:22 pm: | |
D_S, not exactly sure, but the last tenants were the MGM Casino employee trainees, who were trained inside the building. That must have been about 5 years or so ago. Besides the Guardian and Fisher Buildings, no Detroit office building has such a beautiful lobby. My wish for that building has always been as a luxury hotel, with the skylight moved from above the lobby's 4th floor to the top of the 18 story hollow building... with all hotel rooms opening up to a hallway on each floor that was a balcony (with fancy wrought iron railings) that circled the grand lobby, thus giving it an 18 story atrium with a wrought iron and glass roof. That would be awesome! (Message edited by Gistok on July 09, 2007) |
Bijouloveshues Member Username: Bijouloveshues
Post Number: 7 Registered: 07-2007
| Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 11:56 pm: | |
Charlottepaul :: yes, I know - but thank you for the caution... I wouldn't want to be mistaken for disregarding that fact. |
Detroithabitater Member Username: Detroithabitater
Post Number: 20 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 - 12:37 am: | |
Can someone post a pre-1959 picture of the DWB? |
Exmotowner Member Username: Exmotowner
Post Number: 343 Registered: 06-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 - 1:04 pm: | |
"The vandals haven't destroyed it yet, but they've begun their work." What a shame! I still cant get over why the owners would let something like that happen! |
Bob Member Username: Bob
Post Number: 1514 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 - 4:05 pm: | |
Yes it seemed like they were taking care of it, with lots of roof and waterproofing work taking place a few years ago. But then I guess they pulled the security guard and that is when the window graffiti showed up. What a shame. I really hope this building does not become the next eyesore. |
Mdoyle Member Username: Mdoyle
Post Number: 127 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 - 4:12 pm: | |
Plywood door was pried open a few weeks ago, Haven't paid attention since. The inside is truly amazing. |
Billk Member Username: Billk
Post Number: 36 Registered: 09-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 - 4:16 pm: | |
There is 24 hr. security there now and they're doing facade work. |
Bob Member Username: Bob
Post Number: 1515 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 - 4:23 pm: | |
It is facade work, or is it the new ADA compliant People Mover station they are supposed to build? |
Traxus Member Username: Traxus
Post Number: 101 Registered: 02-2006
| Posted on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 - 7:37 pm: | |
Can we keep a forum secret before the scrappers figure this one out? |
Detroitstar Member Username: Detroitstar
Post Number: 709 Registered: 01-2006
| Posted on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 - 8:05 pm: | |
I would assume it is facade work, considering there is a platform hanging from the East side of the building. |
Greatlakes Member Username: Greatlakes
Post Number: 1 Registered: 07-2007
| Posted on Thursday, July 12, 2007 - 10:45 pm: | |
Pictures of the original building, courtesy of WSU: One Two Three Grand Circus Park at Night: One Two (Message edited by GreatLakes on July 13, 2007) |