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Skyscraper, Detroit, since 1925

Buhl Building

Still standing, photographed 2013

Buhl Building in Detroit, Michigan, 2007 Photo: I, Mikerussell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Opened
1925
Tall
366 ft
Floors
29
Style
Neo-Romanesque

Designed by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls and Wirt C. Rowland

The Buhl Building has risen over Griswold St. in Detroit since 1925, 101 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.

On the map

More photos of Buhl Building

IMG_4665, 2013 Photo: ellenm1 from Ann Arbor, MI, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
IMG_4668, 2013 Photo: ellenm1 from Ann Arbor, MI, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Buhl Building, detroit, 2007 Photo: I, Mikerussell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What is there now

Standing and open

  • Plumbing permit 4 Sump Pumps in Elevator Shafts Source: City and county building permits
  • Electrical permit Buhl Elevator Source: City and county building permits

We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 24, 2026. Nothing new at this address in the last two years.

The story

By Victoria Jackson, Editor in Chief Updated

In 1925, in the years Detroit became the Motor City and built like it meant to stay on top, the Buhl Building opened.

Credit the design to Wirt C. Rowland and Smith, Hinchman & Grylls, working in Neo-Romanesque.

It rises 366 feet over 29 floors.

It still stands and still opens its doors.

Go see it at 535 Griswold St. Photos never get the scale right.

Timeline

  1. 1925 Built Designed by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls and Wirt C. Rowland
  2. 2025 2 building permits The latest January 20
  3. 2026 Today 101 years and still standing

Where it is

535 Griswold St.

On this map

  1. Buhl Building This place
  2. Penobscot Building Annex 120 ft
  3. Murphy-Telegraph Building 140 ft
  4. Ford Building 180 ft
  5. Detroit Financial District 230 ft
  6. Guardian Building 240 ft
  7. Penobscot Building (Greater) 280 ft
  8. Union Trust Co. Building 280 ft
  9. Norton Hotel (second) 330 ft

Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors

Who made it

Smith, Hinchman & Grylls
Photo: Traveler100, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Architect

Smith, Hinchman & Grylls

American architectural and engineering company, founded 1853. Designed the Penobscot Building (1928) and 68 more in Metro Detroit

Also by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls

Wirt C. Rowland
Photo: Notorious4life (Uploads), CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Architect

Wirt C. Rowland

American architect, 1878 to 1946. Designed the Guardian Building (1929) and 11 more in Metro Detroit

Also by Wirt C. Rowland

More from Detroit in the 1920s

Around the block

Photo credits

Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.

  1. Buhl Building in Detroit, Michigan, 2007 Photo: I, Mikerussell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. IMG_4665, 2013 Photo: ellenm1 from Ann Arbor, MI, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. IMG_4668, 2013 Photo: ellenm1 from Ann Arbor, MI, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  4. Buhl Building, detroit, 2007 Photo: I, Mikerussell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  5. The Buhl Building in the Detroit Financial District, and the Downtown Detroit cityscape, 1915 Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
  6. self made, 2007 Photo: Mikerussell at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sources

Facts only, gathered from these sources. The story above is written by Rebuild Detroit. Every photo names its author and license where it appears.