Detroit Free Press Building

321 West Lafayette – Detroit Free Press Building – Steel-frame fourteen-story office building clad in limestone (1925). Albert Kahn, Inc., architect. Ulysses A. Ricci, sculptor. The building takes up the half city block fronting on Lafayette’s south side between Washington Boulevard and Cass Avenue extending south to the alley. The design of the building is unusual in that the first three stories display rectangular floor plates, while the top floors are in the building’s rear side give the floors through six E-shaped footprints. A central front tower area contains floors seven through fourteen. The exterior design was implemented by Albert Kahn for many of his other large office buildings such as the Fisher Building. The piers between window bays were brought forward to give the building a dramatic light and shadow play. The building retains its original double hung wood framed windows in many of the offices of the tower. The two-story arched main entrance at the front of the building is guarded by two historical figures. Medallions depicting historical newsmen decorate the building’s exterior. For many years, two red neon signs for “The Free Press” stood on the roof of the building, but they were removed in the late 1990s. The roof is flat. Inside the first floor, the central lobby features an elaborate arched plaster ceiling with rosettes and classical details. A paneled conference room to the east is highlighted by murals by artist Roy C. Gamble depicting the growth of the City of Detroit. Also on the first floor inside the Lafayette Boulevard façade are a restaurant and other retail spaces. The two basement levels once housed the printing facilities of the newspaper. A State of Michigan historic marker is displayed on the exterior of the building. West Larned Street