Wirt C. Rowland
American architect, 1878 to 1946, born in Clinton, Michigan
Designer of the Guardian Building, the tower that rose in Detroit in 1929, a National Historic Landmark since 1989. Another 11 of Rowland's works are on record across Detroit, built from 1920 to 1953, each on the map below.
- works on record in Metro Detroit
- 12
- the Penobscot Building, the tallest here
- 565 feet
- of work here, 1920 to 1953
- 33 years
- Detroit neighborhoods
- 4
Every Rowland building here, side by side
All 12 of Rowland's works on record, oldest at left. Heights are to scale where one is on record (2 of 12, tallest the Penobscot Building at 565 feet); the rest are drawn at one standard size.
The 7 best documented of Rowland's 12 works on record, oldest at left. Heights are to scale where one is on record (2 of 7, tallest the Penobscot Building at 565 feet); the rest are drawn at one standard size.
Guardian Building
1929, Detroit, height not on record, drawn at one standard size
Still standing, photographed 2025
Open its page- Standing
- Tap or point at a building
The story
The Guardian Building heads Rowland's work in Metro Detroit, a tower in Detroit, finished in 1929 and named a National Historic Landmark in 1989. Wirt C. Rowland lived from 1878 to 1946, a life that began in Clinton, Michigan, and Wikidata describes Rowland as an American architect.
Inside the city, Rowland's buildings stand in 4 neighborhoods, from Pilgrim Village to Nolan. Rowland's Metro Detroit work on record runs from Detroit Savings Bank Southwest Branch in 1920 to Town Residences in 1953, 33 years.
No decade kept Rowland busier here than the 1920s, with 9 works. Beyond the six counties, Rowland designed the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Building in Flint, Michigan (1930). Every one of Rowland's 12 works on record still stands.
Of Rowland's works here, 3 are skyscrapers, the Buhl Building and the Penobscot Building first among them. Art Deco is the thread, on 6 of Rowland's works here. On the Bankers Trust Company Building and the Buhl Building and 7 more, Rowland shares credit with Smith, Hinchman & Grylls.
Albert Kahn is credited beside Rowland on Detroit Savings Bank Southwest Branch. To see Rowland's work in person, start with Detroit Savings Bank Southwest Branch at 5705 West Fort St.
Wirt Clinton Rowland (December 1, 1878, November 30, 1946) was an American architect best known for his work in Detroit, Michigan.
Wirt C. Rowland in Metro Detroit, oldest first
12 works
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Detroit Savings Bank Southwest Branch
1920, Detroit's Delray, Building
Still standing, photographed 2012
Photo: Msmith487, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Bankers Trust Company Building 1925, Detroit, Building Standing and open
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Buhl Building
1925, Detroit, Skyscraper
Still standing, photographed 2013
Photo: I, Mikerussell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church (third) 1926, Detroit's Indian Village, House of worship Standing and open
- Nolan Elementary-Middle School 1926, Detroit's Nolan, School Standing and open
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Penobscot Building
1928, Detroit, Skyscraper
Still standing, photographed 2025
Photo: WMrapids, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Penobscot Building (Greater) 1928, Detroit, Building Standing and open
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Guardian Building
1929, Detroit, Skyscraper
Still standing, photographed 2025
Photo: WMrapids, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Michigan Bell and Western Electric Warehouse
1929, Detroit's Pilgrim Village, Building
Still standing, photographed 2017
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- NSO Bell Building 1930, Detroit's Pilgrim Village, Building Standing and open
- Town Residences 1953, Detroit, Building Standing and open
-
Pontchartrain Club / Town House Apartments
Detroit, Building
Still standing, photographed 2022
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
No work matches every choice. Remove a filter above to see more.
Where their buildings stand
12 works on the map
Loading the map
- Standing
- Demolished
- Altered
- 4Works close together
12 works on the map
Wirt C. Rowland's work elsewhere
One notable work by Wirt C. Rowland in Flint, Michigan, as Wikidata lists them.
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Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Building Flint, Michigan, 1930 Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Who Rowland worked with
- Smith, Hinchman & Grylls on the Bankers Trust Company Building, the Buhl Building and 7 more
- Albert Kahn on Detroit Savings Bank Southwest Branch
- Donaldson & Meier on the Penobscot Building
- Field, Hinchman & Smith on the Michigan Bell and Western Electric Warehouse
Where the work stands
Photo credits
All 8 photos on Wirt C. Rowland's page, each with its author, license and the original.
- The Guardian Building in Detroit, Michigan, 2025 Photo: WMrapids, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- w:Wirt C. Rowland, 2023 Photo: Notorious4life (Uploads), CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Detroit Savings Bank Southwest Branch, 2012 Photo: Msmith487, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Buhl Building in Detroit, Michigan, 2007 Photo: I, Mikerussell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Penobscot Building in Detroit, Michigan, 2025 Photo: WMrapids, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Michigan Bell and Western Electric Warehouse Detroit MI, 2009 Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Pontchartrain Club-Town House Apartments in Detroit, MI, 2016 Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Building Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sources
The facts on Wirt C. Rowland come from Historic Detroit, Wikidata, Wikipedia, and Photos; Rebuild Detroit wrote the story above from them, and each photo names its license.