Skyscraper, Detroit, since 1976
Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building
Still standing, photographed 2025
- Opened
- 1976
- Tall
- 393 ft
- Floors
- 27
- Standing
- 50 years
Designed by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls
The Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building has risen over Michigan Avenue in Detroit since 1976, 50 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
More photos of Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building
What is there now
Standing
We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 24, 2026. Nothing new at this address in the last two years.
The story
In 1976, during the decades Detroit spent remaking its downtown, the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building opened.
Credit the design to Smith, Hinchman & Grylls.
It rises 393 feet over 27 floors.
Next time you are nearby, stop at 477 Michigan Avenue and look up.
Timeline
- 1976 Built Designed by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls
- 2026 Today 50 years and still standing
Where it is
477 Michigan Avenue
On this map
- 1 Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building This place
- 2 Polk Directory Building 300 ft
- 3 Detroit Times Building 430 ft
- 4 Summerfield & Hecht 470 ft
- 5 Gabriel Richard Building 470 ft
- 6 Weil and Company--Gabriel Richard Building 480 ft
- 7 Wish Tree 500 ft
- 8 AT&T Michigan Headquarters 510 ft
- 9 Masonic Temple (old) 0.1 mi
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Who made it
Architect
Smith, Hinchman & GryllsAmerican 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 1970s
-
Renaissance Center
Skyscraper, built 1976, Modern, by John C. Portman
Photo: Notorious4life (Uploads), CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
First Presbyterian Church
House of worship, built 1980, Romanesque Revival, by George D. Mason
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
DTE Energy Headquarters
Skyscraper, built 1971, by Emery Roth & Sons
Photo: JK Nair, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Southwest Detroit Hospital Building, built 1974, by Eberle M. Smith Associates, demolished 2025
- Comerica Bank Center Building, built 1971, by Louis G. Redstone & Associates
- Stanley Hong's Mannia Cafe Building, built 1971, Googie, by Nathan Johnson
Around the block
- Polk Directory Building Building, built 1924, by Richard H. Marr, demolished 1994 300 ft
- Detroit Times Building Building, built 1929, Art Deco, by Albert Kahn, demolished 1978 430 ft
- Summerfield & Hecht Building, built 1893, Italianate, by Almon C. Varney, demolished 1929 470 ft
- Gabriel Richard Building Building, built 1915, Chicago, by Marshall & Fox 470 ft
-
Weil and Company--Gabriel Richard Building
Building, Neoclassical, by Marshall & Fox
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
480 ft
- Wish Tree Building, built 2000, Avant garde, by Yoko Ono 500 ft
-
AT&T Michigan Headquarters
Skyscraper, built 1919, by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls
Photo: Mikerussell at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
510 ft
- Masonic Temple (old) House of worship, built 1895, Romanesque Revival, by George D. Mason, demolished 1936 0.1 mi
Photo credits
Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.
- The Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building in 2025 Photo: Gurubanks, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Patrick_V_McNamara_from_People_Mover, 2007 Photo: I, Mikerussell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- self made, 2007 Photo: Mikerussell at the English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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.