Cadillac Tower

Also known as: Barlum Tower

GeotaggedNational Register

Street view of Cadillac Tower at 65 Cadillac Square, Detroit, MI, Detroit Michigan — Cadillac Tower at 65 Cadillac Square, Detroit, MI — Google Street View image, Detroit, Michigan.

National Register of Historic Places Filing

Local SignificanceArchitecture1927

The Barium Tower qualifies for listing on the National Register for Historic Places under Criterion C for its significance as an important example of Late Gothic Revival skyscraper architecture in Detroit and as an outstanding example of the work of the local architecture firm, Bonnah & Chaffee.

Physical Description

The Barium Tower, a steel frame high rise office building located at 65 Cadillac Square in the heart of downtown Detroit, Michigan, soars 40 stories in height. John J. Barium funded the construction of this white terra-cotta-clad, Late Gothic Revival skyscraper in 1926-1928, and it has remained in continuous use as an office building since that date. Presently known as the Cadillac Tower, this building occupies the northwest corner of Cadillac Square and Bates Street. The Barium Tower stands in the vicinity of a collection of high rise office buildings near Cadillac Square, a boulevard with separated lanes and a wide median. The building's footprint measures 100 by 100 feet square. The Barium Tower is clearly visible from a block to the west, at the intersection of Woodward Avenue, Monroe Street and Cadillac Square, as the building is surrounded by parking lots to the north and west and Campus Martius, a civic plaza, also due west across Monroe Street. The building abuts a narrow alleyway to the north. Despite the fact that the storefronts, main lobby and interior offices have been altered with contemporary materials over the years, the Barium Tower continues to retain a high level of integrity.

Architect/Builder

Bonnah & Chaffee architects, Otto Misch Company, general contractors

NRHP Ref# 05000737 • Data from National Park Service • Content available under CC BY-SA 4.0

From Wikipedia

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The Cadillac Tower is a 40-story, 133.4 m (438 ft) Neo-Gothic skyscraper designed by the architectural firm of Bonnah & Chaffee at 65 Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit, Michigan. The building's materials include terra cotta and brick. It was built in 1927 as Barlum Tower. At the top of the tower is a tall guyed mast for local radio stations WMXD, WLLZ and television station WLPC-CD. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.

History

Cadillac Tower was the first building outside New York City and Chicago to have 40 floors, including two below ground. The building also houses the city of Detroit's Planning and Development Department, and its Recreation Department. Cadillac Tower's decorative cornices and parapets are of varying heights. The corner spires rise to a height of 130 m (430 ft), and the spires at the middle façade rise to the same height of the mechanical penthouse at 133.4 m (438 ft).

Nine years before the Cadillac Tower was constructed, the 20-storey Cadillac Square Building was built in the adjacent plot. This is why relatively few windows were installed on the west side of the Cadillac Tower. The Cadillac Square Building was demolished in the 1970s.

From 1994 to 2000, one side of the building featured a 14-story mural of Detroit Lions star player Barry Sanders. The mural was retired after a six-year deal with Nike expired. That mural was then replaced with one of Detroit Red Wings star Steve Yzerman. Currently the building features an ad for the MGM Grand Detroit Casino featuring a lion.

In January 2008, the City of Detroit and Cadillac Tower's owner Northern Group, Inc., announced plans for Cadillac Centre, a $150-million mixed-use residential entertainment-retail complex attached to the skyscraper. Designed by architect Anthony Caradonna, the contemporary steel and glass 24-story center would have filled in the currently vacant Monroe Block adjacent to Campus Martius. This project was put on indefinite hold ultimately being replaced by Meridian Health Plan's future headquarters.

In November 2021, Bedrock, a real estate firm owned by mega-developer Dan Gilbert, purchased the tower. Plans have not been disclosed whether it will be a standalone project or be incorporated into a redevelopment of the Monroe Blocks.