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Building, Midtown, since 1908

Edwin S. George Building

Still standing, photographed 2017

Edwin S. George Building, 4612 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI, seen from across Woodward, 2008 Photo: Andrew Jameson at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Opened
1908
Standing
118 years

Designed by Albert Kahn

The Edwin S. George Building has stood on Woodward Avenue in Midtown since 1908, 118 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.

On the map

More photos of Edwin S. George Building

The front façade of the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant at 461 Piquette Street, Detroit, Michigan, 2017 Photo: Jackdude101, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What is there now

Under renovation

Building permits at this address

4 permits since July 2025

$562,200 in declared work (2 of 4 name a figure) Newest: Alteration permit, December 22, 2025

  1. Alteration permit

    Install new Fire Alarm System to Code per plans. Subject to Field Approval.

    $12,200

  2. Mechanical permit

    HTG

  3. Electrical permit

    4612 woodward

  4. Alteration permit

    Interior Tenant Build-Out of an 11,188 sq ft Ground Floor space for Retail Sales of New Merchandise... Read all

    Interior Tenant Build-Out of an 11,188 sq ft Ground Floor space for Retail Sales of New Merchandise (Automotive Parts) t

    $550,000

Source: City and county building permits

We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 25, 2026.

The story

By Victoria Jackson, Editor in Chief Updated

In 1908, during the boom years when the auto industry turned Detroit into one of the fastest growing cities in America, the Edwin S. George Building opened in Midtown.

Albert Kahn drew the plans.

The National Register of Historic Places listed it in 1993.

Go see it at 4612 Woodward Avenue. Photos never get the scale right.

The Edwin S. George Building, built in 1908, is located at 4612 Woodward Avenue in Midtown 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.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Timeline

  1. 1908 Built Designed by Albert Kahn
  2. 1993 Listed on the National Register July 22, 1993
  3. 2025 4 building permits $562,200 in declared work, the latest December 22
  4. 2026 Today Under renovation

Where it is

4612 Woodward Avenue

On this map

  1. Edwin S. George Building This place
  2. Garfield Building 60 ft
  3. Vernors Bottling Plant 270 ft
  4. Detroit Athletic Club (first) 290 ft
  5. Sugar Hill Historic District 320 ft
  6. First Congregational Church 360 ft
  7. David Whitney House 0.1 mi
  8. The Whitney 0.1 mi
  9. Palmetto Hotel 0.1 mi

Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors

Who made it

Albert Kahn
Photo: public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Architect

Albert Kahn

American architect, 1869 to 1942. Designed the General Motors Building (1922) and 114 more in Metro Detroit

Also by Albert Kahn

More from Detroit in the 1900s

Around the block

It is in Midtown. See the neighborhood's homes, pros and story.

Photo credits

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

  1. Edwin S. George Building, 4612 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI, seen from across Woodward, 2008 Photo: Andrew Jameson at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. The front façade of the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant at 461 Piquette Street, Detroit, Michigan, 2017 Photo: Jackdude101, CC BY-SA 4.0, 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.