Building, Tech Town, since 1904
One Ford Place
Standing and open
- Opened
- 1904
- Standing
- 122 years
Designed by Albert Kahn and Smith & Gardner
One Ford Place has stood on Ford Place in Tech Town since 1904, 122 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
One Ford Place today, from the street
What is there now
Standing and open
- Boiler permit DT-B009317 NB: 5067 Install Hot Water Boiler Source: City and county building permits
- Boiler permit DT-B008919 NB: 5376 Install Hot Water Boiler Source: City and county building permits
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
In 1904, during the boom years when the auto industry turned Detroit into one of the fastest growing cities in America, One Ford Place opened in Tech Town.
Credit the design to Albert Kahn and Smith & Gardner.
It still stands and still opens its doors.
Go see it at 1 Ford Place. Photos never get the scale right.
Timeline
- 1904 Built Designed by Albert Kahn and Smith & Gardner
- 2025 2 building permits The latest March 31
- 2026 Today 122 years and still standing
Where it is
1 Ford Place
On this map
- 1 One Ford Place This place
- 2 United Sound Systems 0.2 mi
- 3 New Amsterdam Historic District 0.2 mi
- 4 6001 Cass 0.2 mi
- 5 The Amsterdam Lofts 0.2 mi
- 6 NABISCO factory 0.2 mi
- 7 Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company Detroit Warehouse 0.2 mi
- 8 Graphic Arts Building 0.2 mi
- 9 Cass Motor Sales 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 1900s
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Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory
Building, built 1904, Neoclassical, by Albert Kahn
Photo: PDru2014 from Detroit, United States, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
![Belle Isle Aquarium, [The Aquarium and conservatory, Belle Isle Park, Detroit, Mich.]](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4284-2164-thumb-099cdc24f0.jpg)
Belle Isle Aquarium
Building, built 1904, Baroque-Beaux Arts, by Albert Kahn
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
-
Ford Piquette Avenue Plant
Building, built 1904, Late Victorian, by Field, Hinchman & Smith
Photo: Jackdude101, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Bonstelle Theatre
Theater, built 1903, Beaux Arts, by Mason & Kahn
Photo: Saul Vielmetti, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Breitmeyer-Tobin Building
Building, built 1905, Beaux Arts, by Raseman & Fisher
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
![Charlevoix Hotel, [Hotel Fuller and Hotel Charlevoix, Detroit, Mich.]](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4345-2224-thumb-6285d11b4c.jpg)
Charlevoix Hotel
Hotel, built 1905, Beaux Arts, by William S. Joy, demolished 2013
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
Around the block
It is in Tech Town. See the neighborhood's homes, pros and story.
-
United Sound Systems
Building, built 1917, by C. Howard Crane
Photo: JCBPCK, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.2 mi
-
New Amsterdam Historic District
Historic district, Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements, by Albert Kahn
Photo: Andrew Jameson at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.2 mi
- 6001 Cass Building, built 1920, by Albert Kahn 0.2 mi
- The Amsterdam Lofts Built 1905 0.2 mi
- NABISCO factory Building, built 1920, by Albert G. Zimmermann 0.2 mi
-
Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company Detroit Warehouse
Building, built 1920, Commercial Style, by Francis W. Fitzpatrick
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.2 mi
- Graphic Arts Building Building, built 1926, Italian Romanesque, by Murphy & Burns 0.2 mi
-
Cass Motor Sales
Building, Art Deco
Photo: Andrew Jameson at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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.
- One Ford Place from the street today Photo: Street View, 2024
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.