Building, Midtown, since 1917
Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center
Standing and open
- Opened
- 1917
- Style
- Neo-classicism
- Standing
- 109 years
Designed by Field, Hinchman & Smith
The Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center has stood on Cass Ave. in Midtown since 1917, 109 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
What is there now
Standing and open
We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 25, 2026. Nothing new at this address in the last two years.
The story
The Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center opened in 1917, during the boom years when the auto industry turned Detroit into one of the fastest growing cities in America.
Credit the design to Field, Hinchman & Smith, working in Neo-classicism.
It is still open, and still part of daily life in the city.
Go see it at 4743 Cass Ave. Photos never get the scale right.
Timeline
- 1917 Built Designed by Field, Hinchman & Smith
- 2026 Today 109 years and still standing
Where it is
4743 Cass Ave.
On this map
- 1 Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center This place
- 2 Hilberry Theatre 50 ft
- 3 Thompson Home 140 ft
- 4 Old Main 310 ft
- 5 Warren--Prentis Historic District 350 ft
- 6 Perry McAdow House 420 ft
- 7 Wayne State University Buildings 430 ft
- 8 William C. Boydell House 440 ft
- 9 Mulford T. Hunter House 460 ft
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Who made it
Architect
Field, Hinchman & SmithArchitectural firm. Designed the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant (1904) and 6 more in Metro Detroit
Also by Field, Hinchman & Smith
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 Square Building, [Cadillac Square and County Building, Detroit, Mich.]](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4325-2210-thumb-8479e96c24.jpg)
Cadillac Square Building
Hotel, built 1918, Beaux Arts, by Bonnah & Chaffee, demolished 1976
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
-
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
-
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
-
Cadillac Place
Building, built 1920, by Albert Kahn
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Around the block
It is in Midtown. See the neighborhood's homes, pros and story.
-
Hilberry Theatre
House of worship, built 1917, by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls
Photo: Saul Vielmetti, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
50 ft
-
Thompson Home
Built 1884, Queen Anne
Photo: Andrew Jameson at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
140 ft
-
Old Main
School, built 1896, Romanesque Revival, by Malcomson & Higginbotham
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
310 ft
-
Warren--Prentis Historic District
Historic district
Photo: Andrew Jameson at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
350 ft
-
Perry McAdow House
Historic home, Renaissance Revival
Photo: Andrew Jameson at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
420 ft
-
Wayne State University Buildings
Historic district
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
430 ft
-
William C. Boydell House
Historic home, Beaux-Arts
Photo: Andrew Jameson at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
440 ft
-
Mulford T. Hunter House
Historic home, Queen Anne style architecture in the United States
Photo: Andrew Jameson at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
460 ft
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.