Building, Detroit, since 1896
Reid Building
Standing and open
- Opened
- 1896
- Style
- Romanesque Revival
- Standing
- 130 years
Designed by Donaldson & Meier
The Reid Building has stood on Cadillac Square in Detroit since 1896, 130 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
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
In 1896, as Detroit's lumber, stove and shipbuilding money went into brick and stone, the Reid Building opened.
Credit the design to Donaldson & Meier, working in Romanesque Revival.
It still stands and still opens its doors.
Next time you are nearby, stop at 162 Cadillac Square and look up.
Timeline
- 1896 Built Designed by Donaldson & Meier
- 2026 Today 130 years and still standing
Where it is
162 Cadillac Square
On this map
- 1 Reid Building This place
- 2 Light Infantry Armory 210 ft
- 3 William Cotter Maybury Monument 210 ft
- 4 Gayety Theatre 230 ft
- 5 Lawyers Building 240 ft
- 6 Burton Abstract & Title Co. Building 320 ft
- 7 Burns Hotel 330 ft
- 8 Old Wayne County Building 350 ft
- 9 Christopher Columbus Monument 350 ft
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Who made it
Architect
Donaldson & MeierAmerican architectural firm, founded 1882. Designed the Penobscot Building (1928) and 58 more in Metro Detroit
Also by Donaldson & Meier
More from Detroit in the 1890s
-
Majestic Building
Building, built 1896, Beaux Arts, by Daniel H. Burnham, demolished 1961
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
-
Harmonie Club
Building, built 1895, Beaux Arts, by Richard E. Raseman
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Coronado Apartments
Building, built 1894, Romanesque Revival, by William S. Joy
Photo: Andrew Jameson at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Hurlbut Memorial Gate
Monument, built 1894, Beaux Arts
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
![Belle Isle Pavilion, [Pavilion, Belle Isle Park, Detroit, Mich.]](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4294-2180-thumb-512916ec9d.jpg)
Belle Isle Pavilion
Building, built 1893, by Spier & Rohns, demolished 1950
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
-
![Floral Clock at Water Works Park, Floral clock, Water [Works] Park, Detroit, Mich.](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4470-2305-thumb-1a3e4ef4e0.jpg)
Floral Clock at Water Works Park
Monument, built 1893
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
Around the block
- Light Infantry Armory Structure, built 1886, Richardsonian Romanesque, by H.H. Richardson, demolished 1957 210 ft
- William Cotter Maybury Monument Monument, built 1912, Classic Revival 210 ft
- Gayety Theatre Theater, built 1912, by William H. McElfatrick, demolished 1958 230 ft
- Lawyers Building Building, built 1923, by Bonnah & Chaffee 240 ft
- Burton Abstract & Title Co. Building Building, built 1924, by Frank Herman, demolished 1977 320 ft
- Burns Hotel Hotel, built 1908, by Joseph G. Kastler, demolished 1925 330 ft
- Old Wayne County Building Building, built 1902, Beaux Arts, by John Scott 350 ft
- Christopher Columbus Monument Monument, built 1910 350 ft
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.