Building, Corktown, since 1936
Newlab at Michigan Central Building
Standing and open
- Opened
- 1936
- Standing
- 90 years
Designed by Albert Kahn
The Newlab at Michigan Central Building has stood on Fifteenth St. in Corktown since 1936, 90 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
Newlab at Michigan Central Building today, from the street
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 Newlab at Michigan Central Building opened in 1936, through the Depression years, when every new building in Detroit was a statement of faith.
Albert Kahn drew the plans.
It is still open, and still part of daily life in the city.
Next time you are nearby, stop at 2050 Fifteenth St and look up.
Timeline
- 1936 Built Designed by Albert Kahn
- 1987 Closed
- 2026 Today 90 years and still standing
Where it is
2050 Fifteenth St.
On this map
- 1 Newlab at Michigan Central Building This place
- 2 Michigan Central Station 460 ft
- 3 Corktown Historic District 0.1 mi
- 4 Roosevelt Hotel 0.1 mi
- 5 Tre-Way Apartments 0.1 mi
- 6 St. Paul's German Evangelical Lutheran Church 0.2 mi
- 7 United States Postal Service Roosevelt Park Station 0.2 mi
- 8 CPA Building 0.2 mi
- 9 The Factory at Corktown 0.3 mi
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Who made it
Architect
Albert KahnAmerican 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 1930s
-
Alger Theater
Theater, built 1935, Art Moderne
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Brewster-Douglass Projects
Building, built 1938, demolished 2013
Photo: Albert duce, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
River Terrace Apartments
Building, built 1939, Colonial Revival
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
United States Immigration Station
Building, built 1933, Colonial Revival, by James A. Wetmore
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Louis G. Redstone Residential Historic District
Historic district, built 1940, International Style
Photo: National Park Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Birwood Wall
Structure, built 1941
Photo: John Vachon, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Around the block
It is in Corktown. See the neighborhood's homes, pros and story.
-
Michigan Central Station
Building, built 1913, Beaux Arts, by Reed & Stem
Photo: WMrapids, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons
460 ft
-
Corktown Historic District
Historic district, Colonial Revival
Photo: Brian Mulloy, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.1 mi
- Roosevelt Hotel Hotel, built 1923, by Pollmar & Ropes 0.1 mi
- Tre-Way Apartments Building, built 1927, by Talmadge C. Hughes, demolished 1989 0.1 mi
- St. Paul's German Evangelical Lutheran Church House of worship, built 1873, German Gothic, by Carl Schmidt 0.2 mi
-
United States Postal Service Roosevelt Park Station
Building, built 1923, Commercial style
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.2 mi
- CPA Building Building, built 1924, Neoclassical, by Alvin E. Harley 0.2 mi
- The Factory at Corktown Building, built 1907, Industrial, by Richard E. Raseman 0.3 mi
Photo credits
Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.
- Newlab at Michigan Central 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.