Building, Detroit, since 1923
Lawyers Building
Under renovation
- Opened
- 1923
- Standing
- 103 years
Designed by Bonnah & Chaffee
The Lawyers Building has stood on Cadillac Square in Detroit since 1923, 103 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
Lawyers Building today, from the street
What is there now
Under renovation
We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 25, 2026.
The story
In 1923, in the years Detroit became the Motor City and built like it meant to stay on top, the Lawyers Building opened.
Bonnah & Chaffee drew the plans.
The National Register of Historic Places listed it in 1982.
Crews are bringing it back, and Detroit is watching.
Next time you are nearby, stop at 139 Cadillac Square and look up.
Timeline
- 1923 Built Designed by Bonnah & Chaffee
- 1982 Listed on the National Register April 22, 1982
- 2026 Today Under renovation
Where it is
139 Cadillac Square
On this map
- 1 Lawyers Building This place
- 2 Burns Hotel 170 ft
- 3 Reid Building 240 ft
- 4 Old Wayne County Building 250 ft
- 5 Christopher Columbus Monument 250 ft
- 6 Cadillac Tower 320 ft
- 7 Detroit Police Headquarters (old) 320 ft
- 8 Barlum Tower 330 ft
- 9 Bagley Memorial Fountain 360 ft
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Who made it
Cadillac Square Building, by Bonnah & Chaffee. Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
Architect
Bonnah & ChaffeeArchitecture firm. Designed the Cadillac Tower (1927) and 8 more in Metro Detroit
Also by Bonnah & Chaffee
More from Detroit in the 1920s
-
Bethel Community Transformation Center
House of worship, built 1922, by Albert Kahn
Photo: paintings by Myron G. Barlow photography by Helmut Ziewers,, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Westin Book Cadillac Hotel
Hotel, built 1924, Neo-Renaissance, by Louis Kamper
Photo: Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Buhl Building
Skyscraper, built 1925, Neo-Romanesque, by Wirt C. Rowland
Photo: I, Mikerussell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Chateau Frontenac
Building, built 1925, Mediterranean, by J. Will Wilson, demolished 1999
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Belcrest Apartments
Building, built 1926, Neo-Romanesque, by Charles N. Agree
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Cadillac Place
Building, built 1920, by Albert Kahn
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Around the block
- Burns Hotel Hotel, built 1908, by Joseph G. Kastler, demolished 1925 170 ft
- Reid Building Building, built 1896, Romanesque Revival, by Donaldson & Meier 240 ft
- Old Wayne County Building Building, built 1902, Beaux Arts, by John Scott 250 ft
- Christopher Columbus Monument Monument, built 1910 250 ft
-
Cadillac Tower
Structure, built 1927, Late Gothic Revival, by Bonnah & Chaffee
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
320 ft
- Detroit Police Headquarters (old) Building, built 1884, by Gordon W. Lloyd, demolished 1928 320 ft
-
Barlum Tower
Building
Photo: JJonahJackalope, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
330 ft
-
Bagley Memorial Fountain
Monument, built 1887, Romanesque
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
360 ft
Photo credits
Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.
- Lawyers Building from the street today Photo: Street View, 2026
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.