Building, Detroit, since 1950
UAW-Ford Joint Trusts Center
Standing and open
- Opened
- 1950
- Style
- International
- Standing
- 76 years
Designed by Harley, Ellington & Day
The UAW-Ford Joint Trusts Center has stood on W. Jefferson Ave. in Detroit since 1950, 76 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
UAW-Ford Joint Trusts Center 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 UAW-Ford Joint Trusts Center opened in 1950, at the height of Detroit's postwar prosperity.
Credit the design to Harley, Ellington & Day, in the International style.
It is still open, and still part of daily life in the city.
Next time you are nearby, stop at 151 W. Jefferson Ave., Detroit, Mich, and look up.
Timeline
- 1950 Built Designed by Harley, Ellington & Day
- 2026 Today 76 years and still standing
Where it is
151 W. Jefferson Ave., Detroit, Mich,
On this map
- 1 UAW-Ford Joint Trusts Center This place
- 2 Hart, Philip A., Plaza 360 ft
- 3 Aquarama 380 ft
- 4 Norton Hotel (first) 0.1 mi
- 5 Fort Pontchartrain Hotel 0.1 mi
- 6 150 West Jefferson 0.1 mi
- 7 Norton Hotel (second) 0.1 mi
- 8 Newberry & McMillan Building 0.1 mi
- 9 Ford Auditorium 0.2 mi
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Who made it
Architect
Harley, Ellington & DayArchitecture and engineering firm, founded 1908. Designed the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center (1955) and 3 more in Metro Detroit
Also by Harley, Ellington & Day
More from Detroit in the 1950s
-
Temple Israel
House of worship, built 1950, Art Deco, by William Kapp
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Detroit Historical Museum
Building, built 1951, by William Kapp
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Word of Power Ministry
Building, built 1949, Streamline Moderne, by William Kapp
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Jerome H. Remick Band Shell Building, built 1950, Mid-Century Modern, by Raymond G. Jepson
- Assumption Greek Orthodox Church House of worship, built 1949, by Arthur Greig Jr.
- Flame Show Bar Building, built 1949, Art Moderne, demolished 1965
Around the block
-
Hart, Philip A., Plaza
Building
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
360 ft
- Aquarama Ship, built 1945, demolished 2007 380 ft
- Norton Hotel (first) Hotel, demolished 1927 0.1 mi
- Fort Pontchartrain Hotel Hotel, built 1965, by King, Harry & Maxwell Lewis 0.1 mi
-
150 West Jefferson
Skyscraper, built 1989, by Heller Manus Architects
Photo: V8americanpower at English Wikipedia, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
0.1 mi
- Norton Hotel (second) Hotel, built 1918, Italian Renaissance, by Bonnah & Chaffee, demolished 1959 0.1 mi
- Newberry & McMillan Building Building, built 1879, Second Empire, by Gordon W. Lloyd, demolished 1928 0.1 mi
-
Ford Auditorium
Building, built 1956, International Style, by Crane, Kiehler & Kellogg, demolished 2011
Photo: Goldnpuppy, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.2 mi
Photo credits
Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.
- UAW-Ford Joint Trusts Center from the street today Photo: Street View, 2014
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.