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Building, Detroit, since 1917

Kresge Building

Standing and open

A drawing of Kresge Building from its recorded size and style. No photo we may share has turned up yet.
Opened
1917
Standing
109 years

Designed by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls

The Kresge Building has stood on Woodward Ave. in Detroit since 1917, 109 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 April 2025

$1.2 million in declared work (5 of 6 name a figure) Newest: Alteration permit, April 18, 2026

  1. Alteration permit

    Interior alterations in the 5th Floor Tenant Office Suite to Code per plans. Subject to Field Approval.

    $700,000

  2. Alteration permit

    Alterations to existing Fire Alarm System on the 9th Floors to Code per plans. Subject to Field Approval.

    $5,000

  3. Fire alarm permit

    Fire Alarm Modification for Floor 8/9.

  4. Alteration permit

    Interior alterations (Molina Healthcare Project) as per plans. Subject to field approval.

    $205,000

  5. Alteration permit

    Modifications to fire alarm system per provided plans and documents. (Subject to field approval.)

    $18,500

  6. Alteration permit

    Interior alterations to an existing tenant space as per plans. Subject to field approval.

    $250,000

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

The Kresge Building opened in 1917, in the years Detroit became the Motor City and built like it meant to stay on top.

The design came from Smith, Hinchman & Grylls.

It still stands and still opens its doors.

Go see it at 1201 Woodward Ave. Photos never get the scale right.

Timeline

  1. 1917 Built Designed by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls
  2. 2025 5 building permits $478,500 in declared work, the latest November 18
  3. 2026 Alteration permit April 18, 2026
  4. 2026 Today Under renovation

Where it is

1201 Woodward Ave.

On this map

  1. Kresge Building This place
  2. Traver Building 70 ft
  3. Fowler Building 110 ft
  4. Hudson's Department Store 110 ft
  5. 35W Capitol Park Apartments 190 ft
  6. Miles Theatre 190 ft
  7. The Albert 200 ft
  8. B. Siegel 220 ft
  9. David Stott Building 220 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

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.