Brazil
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Denmark
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Finland
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Poland
Portugal
the United Kingdom
the Czech Republic
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Canada
Mexico
the Dominican Republic
South Africa
Australia
Fiji
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
Historic building · Detroit, Michigan
Guardian Building
Art déco skyscraper from 1929, with an orange-brick façade and a lobby with mosaics and ceramics open to visitors.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Guardian Building
The Guardian Building was built in 1929 for the Union Trust Company and became known as the cathedral of finance. Wirt Rowland’s design uses custom-made orange-toned bricks, which gave the building the nickname Orange Cathedral.
The main interest is the lobby: a vaulted hall with mosaics, colorful Pewabic ceramics (a Detroit workshop) and Rookwood pieces from Cincinnati, marbles and geometric details inspired by indigenous patterns. A large mural shows a map of Michigan.
The building remains office space, and the lobby is open to the public during the day, with shops and a café; local groups run guided tours focusing on downtown’s art déco architecture.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 30 minutes.
Best time
On weekdays during business hours, when the lobby is open.
How to get there
Downtown, on Griswold Street, a few minutes’ walk from the river and the People Mover.
Tip
Enter discreetly, as this is an office building. Combine a visit with a downtown architecture walk.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Guardian Building
Is the Guardian Building open to visitors?
The lobby receives visitors during the day; the rest of the building is offices.
Why is the Guardian Building famous?
For its 1929 art déco lobby, with mosaics and colorful ceramics.
Where is the Guardian Building located?
In downtown Detroit, on Griswold Street.