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Building, Tech Town, since 1917

United Sound Systems

Still standing, photographed 2024

United Sound Systems in May 2024 Photo: JCBPCK, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Opened
1917
Standing
109 years

Designed by C. Howard Crane

United Sound Systems has stood on Second Ave. in Tech Town since 1917, 109 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.

On the map

More photos of United Sound Systems

United Sound Systems Spring 2016 Photo: Detroitsound, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Handschriftlicher Abrechnungsbeleg, 2012 Photo: unbekannt, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

What is there now

Standing, closed

  • Closed Source: Historic Detroit

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

By Victoria Jackson, Editor in Chief Updated

United Sound Systems opened in 1917, during the boom years when the auto industry turned Detroit into one of the fastest growing cities in America.

C. Howard Crane drew the plans.

Its doors are closed for now, but the building still stands.

Next time you are nearby, stop at 5840 Second Ave and look up.

United Sound Systems is a recording studio and locally designated historic district in Detroit, Michigan, United States. Many popular music artists over the last seventy years have recorded at the facility, including blues musicians like John Lee Hooker (he recorded "Boogie Chillen'" there in 1948), and funk bands like Parliament-Funkadelic.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Timeline

  1. 1917 Built Designed by C. Howard Crane
  2. 2018 Closed
  3. 2026 Today Standing, closed

Where it is

5840 Second Ave.

On this map

  1. United Sound Systems This place
  2. Cass Motor Sales 0.1 mi
  3. Thomas S. Sprague House 0.2 mi
  4. 6001 Cass 0.2 mi
  5. One Ford Place 0.2 mi
  6. Arena Gardens 0.2 mi
  7. Verona Apartments 0.2 mi
  8. Graphic Arts Building 0.2 mi
  9. Gleaners Temple 0.2 mi

Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors

Who made it

C. Howard Crane
Photo: public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Architect

C. Howard Crane

American architect, 1885 to 1952. Designed the Fox Theater Building (1928) and 30 more in Metro Detroit

Also by C. Howard Crane

More from Detroit in the 1910s

Around the block

It is in Tech Town. See the neighborhood's homes, pros and story.

Photo credits

Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.

  1. United Sound Systems in May 2024 Photo: JCBPCK, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. United Sound Systems Spring 2016 Photo: Detroitsound, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. Handschriftlicher Abrechnungsbeleg, 2012 Photo: unbekannt, public domain, 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.