Edwin S. George Building
Encyclopedia
The Edwin S. George Building, built in 1908, is located at 4612 Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan
, at the corner of Woodward and Garfield. In 1914, the name was changed to the Garfield Building. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1993.
In 1908, George hired architect Albert Kahn to design a two-story building which would include rental space for auto parts suppliers and manufacturers. This building opened as the Edwin S. George Building. In 1914, George had three additional floors added to the building (also designed by Kahn) and changed the name to the Garfield building. George owned the building until 1942, when he sold it to a real estate investment firm. Wayne County Community College
used the Garfield Building in the 1970s, and it was later abandoned. The building was converted to condominiums in 2000, and became known as the Lofts at Garfield.
facade. Embellishments were added to make the building attractive. The additional three floors added in 1914 are architecturally consistent with the lower floors.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, at the corner of Woodward and Garfield. In 1914, the name was changed to the Garfield Building. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1993.
History
Edwin S. George was an important businessman in Detroit at the turn of the 20th century. He first came to Detroit in 1890 and worked as a furrier, opening his own wholesale and retail fur company in 1897. He became involved in Detroit's automobile industry and was an important developer of the stretch of Woodward between Grand Circus Park and Warren Avenue.In 1908, George hired architect Albert Kahn to design a two-story building which would include rental space for auto parts suppliers and manufacturers. This building opened as the Edwin S. George Building. In 1914, George had three additional floors added to the building (also designed by Kahn) and changed the name to the Garfield building. George owned the building until 1942, when he sold it to a real estate investment firm. Wayne County Community College
Wayne County Community College
Wayne County Community College District is a community college district with its headquarters in Downtown Detroit, Michigan...
used the Garfield Building in the 1970s, and it was later abandoned. The building was converted to condominiums in 2000, and became known as the Lofts at Garfield.
Architecture
The original Edwin S. George Building was a two-story square building with a flat roof, with a white glazed terra cottaTerra cotta
Terracotta, Terra cotta or Terra-cotta is a clay-based unglazed ceramic, although the term can also be applied to glazed ceramics where the fired body is porous and red in color...
facade. Embellishments were added to make the building attractive. The additional three floors added in 1914 are architecturally consistent with the lower floors.
External links
- Garfield Building from the City of Detroit Planning and Development Department.
- The Lofts at Garfield from Model D.