Kean Apartments
Historic Photo from NRHP Filing
The Kean East Jefferson Ave. Residential Buildings Thematic Group Detroit, Wayne Co., MI Resource Analysts, Inc., Dec. 1983 Neg.: Michigan History Division 208 N. Capitol Ave., Lansing View from southeast Photo 22 of 23
National Register of Historic Places Filing
The Kean is significant for its outstanding Art Deco-inspired design. The building was designed by architect Charles Nobel and was completed in 1931. The Kean is visually outstanding among structures on East Jefferson Avenue and among Detroit skyscrapers in general. Its completion coincides with the end of large-scale residential development along East Jefferson Avenue.
Physical Description
Located next to the Hibbard Apartments, The Kean faces southeast inward East Jefferson Avenue. It is sixteen stories in height and contains fifty apartments. This eclectic structure is essentially Art Deco in style, but contains Romanesque elements. Notable features are the bright orange terra cotta entranceway with its coffered, arched opening, Corinthian columns, and medallions; the uninterrupted vertical surfaces, faced with brown brick, which use the full height of the building; the tiled, hipped roofs with dormers, pinnacles, and central chimneys; and the gargoyles which project from the upper stories.
Architect/Builder
Charles Nobel
NRHP Ref# 85002940 • Data from National Park Service • Content available under CC BY-SA 4.0
Historical Photos
(2)The Kean East Jefferson Ave. Residential Buildings Thematic Group Detroit, Wayne Co., MI Resource Analysts, Inc., Dec. 1983 Neg.: Michigan History Division 208 N. Capitol Ave., Lansing View from southeast Photo 22 of 23
Public Domain (Michigan Filing)
From Wikipedia
The Kean is an apartment building located at 8925 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, directly adjacent to the Hibbard Apartment Building. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
Description The Kean is a striking Art Deco apartment building containing some Romanesque elements. The building is sixteen stories high, containing four apartments per floor. The main structure is brick; the entrance is embellished with light orange terra cotta, inset medallions, and Corinthian columns. The vertical surfaces rise the full height of the building. The hipped roof is tiled, and edged with a red and white checkerboard pattern and projecting gargoyles.
History The Kean was designed by Charles Noble in 1931. With the onset of the Great Depression, this was the last of the large residential apartments built along Jefferson until well after World War II. The building is currently operated as an apartment building.
References
External links The Kean at Detroit Living
Content available under CC BY-SA 4.0
Building Details
- Architect
- Charles Noble
- Year Built
- 1931
- Style
- free-Art Deco
- Building Type
- apartment
- National Register
- Listed
- Ref# 85002940
