Building, Midtown, since 1966
The Plaza
Standing and open
- Opened
- 1966
- Style
- International
- Standing
- 60 years
Designed by Crane & Gorwic
The Plaza has stood on Woodward Ave. in Midtown since 1966, 60 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
The Plaza today, from the street
What is there now
Under renovation
- Alteration permit Modifications to existing Telecom Facility per plans. (Subject to Field Approval.), estimated at $20,000 Source: City and county building permits
- Change Of Occupancy/use permit Change of Occupancy/Use (1st floor Bar/2-12 Hotel) in an existing 94,436 sq. ft. building as per plans. Subject to Field, estimated at $2,251,000 Source: City and county building permits
- Standing and open Source: Historic Detroit
We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 25, 2026.
The story
In 1966, during the decades Detroit spent remaking its downtown, The Plaza opened in Midtown.
Credit the design to Crane & Gorwic, in the International style.
It is still open, and still part of daily life in the city.
Next time you are nearby, stop at 3800 Woodward Ave and look up.
Timeline
- 1966 Built Designed by Crane & Gorwic
- 2013 Closed
- 2025 Alteration permit April 21, 2025
- 2026 Change Of Occupancy/use permit September 3, 2026
- 2026 Today Under renovation
Where it is
3800 Woodward Ave.
On this map
- 1 The Plaza This place
- 2 Professional Plaza Tower Next door
- 3 Graystone Ballroom 170 ft
- 4 Orchestra Hall 260 ft
- 5 Wells W. Leggett House 440 ft
- 6 Gotham Hotel 450 ft
- 7 Chapel of St. Therese, the Little Flower 470 ft
- 8 Chapel of Saint Theresa, the Little Flower 490 ft
- 9 Milaflores Apartments 0.1 mi
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Who made it
More from Detroit in the 1960s
-
Professional Plaza Tower
Structure, built 1966, International Style
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
St. Regis Hotel
Hotel, built 1966, Neo-Renaissance, by Weil-Cohan Associates
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
1001 Woodward
Skyscraper, built 1965, International, by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls
Photo: Coreyfein01, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Jeffersonian Apartments
Skyscraper, built 1965, by Gino Rossetti
Photo: The original uploader was Mikerussell at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
1300 Lafayette East Cooperative
Skyscraper, built 1964, by Gunnar Birkerts
Photo: Mikerussell at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
211 West Fort Street
Skyscraper, built 1963
Photo: Mikerussell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Around the block
It is in Midtown. See the neighborhood's homes, pros and story.
-
Professional Plaza Tower
Structure, built 1966, International Style
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Next door
- Graystone Ballroom Building, built 1922, Neo-Gothic, by Rupert W. Koch, demolished 1980 170 ft
-
Orchestra Hall
Theater, built 1919, Beaux-Arts, by C. Howard Crane
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
260 ft
- Wells W. Leggett House Built 1883, Romanesque Revival 440 ft
- Gotham Hotel Hotel, built 1924, Italian Renaissance, by Percival R. Pereira, demolished 1963 450 ft
- Chapel of St. Therese, the Little Flower House of worship, built 1926, Neo-Romanesque, by Donaldson & Meier, demolished 2023 470 ft
-
Chapel of Saint Theresa, the Little Flower
House of worship, built 1926, by Donaldson & Meier, demolished
Photo: Andrew Jameson at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
490 ft
- Milaflores Apartments Building, built 1923, by Jacob I. Weinberg, demolished 1964 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 Plaza 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.