Lost hotel, Detroit, 1918 to 1976
Cadillac Square Building
Demolished in 1976
- Opened
- 1918
- Style
- Beaux Arts
- Torn down
- 1976
Designed by Bonnah & Chaffee and Louis Kamper
The Cadillac Square Building stood in Detroit from 1918 until 1976. Here is what it was, who made it and where to find the spot today.
More photos of Cadillac Square Building
What is there now
Demolished in 1976
We have not yet found a source that says what stands on the spot today. Last looked on October 25, 2026.
The story
In 1918, during the boom years when the auto industry turned Detroit into one of the fastest growing cities in America, the Cadillac Square Building went up.
Louis Kamper and Bonnah & Chaffee drew the plans, in the Beaux Arts style.
It is gone now, demolished in 1976, and the map pin below marks where it stood.
Timeline
- 1918 Built Designed by Bonnah & Chaffee and Louis Kamper
- 1976 Demolished
- 2026 Today 50 years since it came down
Where it is
111 Cadillac Square
Who made it
Merchants Building, by Bonnah & Chaffee. Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Architect
Bonnah & ChaffeeArchitecture firm. Designed the Cadillac Tower (1927) and 8 more in Metro Detroit
Also by Bonnah & Chaffee
- Bennett Building 1895
- Dr. W. Elisha Ellicott Tyson House 1915
- Norton Hotel (second) 1918
- Indian Village Manor Apartments 1921
- Merchants Building 1922
- Iodent Building 1923
Col. Frank J. Hecker House, by Louis Kamper. Photo: Andrew Jameson at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Architect
Louis KamperAmerican architect, 1861 to 1953. Designed the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel (1924) and 37 more in Metro Detroit
Also by Louis Kamper
More from Detroit in the 1910s
-
Book Tower
Hotel, built 1917, Italian Renaissance, by Louis Kamper
Photo: Albert duce, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Cadillac Place
Building, built 1920, by Albert Kahn
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament
House of worship, built 1916, Neo Gothic, by George F. Diehl
Photo: Nheyob, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Detroit Savings Bank Southwest Branch
Building, built 1920, Classical Revival, by Albert Kahn
Photo: Msmith487, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
David Whitney Building
Hotel, built 1915, Beaux Arts, by Graham, Burnham & Co.
Photo: St8fan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Detroit Athletic Club
Building, built 1915, by Albert Kahn
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
Around the block
- Cadillac Chair Monument, built 1901, Classic Revival, demolished 1941 60 ft
-
![Russell House, [Russell House, Detroit, Mich.]](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/historic_home-2537-2148-thumb-31d5f1cdf9.jpg)
Russell House
Built 1857
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
80 ft
- Frank E. Kirby Ship, built 1890, by Louis Keil, demolished 1932 130 ft
- Greyhound Ship, built 1902, demolished 1935 130 ft
- J.T. Wing Ship, built 1919, demolished 1956 130 ft
-
Ste. Claire
Ship, built 1910, by Frank E. Kirby, demolished 2018
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
130 ft
- Victoria Ship, built 1872, demolished 130 ft
- Seeandbee Ship, built 1913, by Frank E. Kirby, demolished 1947 130 ft
Photo credits
Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.
- [Cadillac Square and County Building, Detroit, Mich.] Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
- [Cadillac Square and County Bldg., Detroit, Mich.] Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
- Cadillac Square and county building, Detroit, Mich. Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
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.