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Building, Detroit, since 1914

Kales Building

Standing and open

A drawing of Kales Building from its recorded size and style. No photo we may share has turned up yet.
Opened
1914
Style
Chicago School
Standing
112 years

Designed by Albert Kahn

The Kales Building has stood on W. Adams St. in Detroit since 1914, 112 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.

On the map

What is there now

Under renovation

  • Standing and open Source: Historic Detroit

Building permits at this address

6 permits since November 2024

$315,000 in declared work (2 of 6 name a figure) Newest: Electrical permit, September 23, 2026

  1. Electrical permit

    16th Floor Remodel

  2. Plumbing permit

    Unit 1602 Move existing kitchen sink location Move existing bathtub location Set customer provided bathtub... Read all

    Unit 1602 Move existing kitchen sink location Move existing bathtub location Set customer provided bathtub and rough val

  3. Alteration permit

    Per HDC2025-00566, Exterior alterations at Front Facade/Canopy/Entry to Code per plans. Subject to Field... Read all

    Per HDC2025-00566, Exterior alterations at Front Facade/Canopy/Entry to Code per plans. Subject to Field Approval, HDC C

    $165,000

  4. Plumbing permit

    At 76 W Adams; Unit 1604, Replace existing water heater with new water heater and pan

  5. Alteration permit

    Interior alterations on 1st & 2nd Floors and creation of Coworking spaces per plans. Subject to Field... Read all

    Interior alterations on 1st & 2nd Floors and creation of Coworking spaces per plans. Subject to Field Approval. Separate

    $150,000

  6. Mechanical permit

    Replace 4 Lochinvars Model - WHB399N

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

The Kales Building opened in 1914, during the boom years when the auto industry turned Detroit into one of the fastest growing cities in America.

The design came from Albert Kahn, in the Chicago School style.

It is still open, and still part of daily life in the city.

Next time you are nearby, stop at 76 W. Adams St and look up.

Timeline

  1. 1914 Built Designed by Albert Kahn
  2. 1986 Closed
  3. 2024 2 building permits $150,000 in declared work, the latest November 26
  4. 2025 2 building permits $165,000 in declared work, the latest December 2
  5. 2026 2 building permits The latest September 23
  6. 2026 Today Under renovation

Where it is

76 W. Adams St.

On this map

  1. Kales Building This place
  2. Park Avenue Building 90 ft
  3. Adams Theatre and Fine Arts Building 110 ft
  4. Campau Realty Co. Building 120 ft
  5. Fyfe Apartments 210 ft
  6. Women's City Club 240 ft
  7. Detroit Building 250 ft
  8. Church of Our Father 250 ft
  9. John J. Bagley House 260 ft

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 1910s

Around the block

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.