Fisher Building

The Fisher Building, at 3011 West Grand Boulevard in Detroit (in the New Center Area) is a large ornate art deco skyscraper with a 30-story tower completed in 1928. It was designed by Albert Kahn associates, and groundbreaking on its 7-acre site was in 1927. It has been called "Detroit's largest art object" with its extensive use of 40 types of marble on both the interior and exterior, and ornately-painted barrel-vault ceilings.

I'm not going to try and fool anyone... My page just adds a few of my own photos of the building as a footnote to the superb Fisher Building page at HistoricDetroit.org and the official page of the Fisher Building, so be sure to have a look through those pages. The rest of this page shows things I think I can add to or explain further than those pages.

The Fisher Building is located at the corner of West Grand Blvd and Second Avenue. The 1st photo below shows the Fisher Building from on front of Cadillac Place, the huge building across West Grand Blvd which was once General Motors Headquarters. The lower three stories are clad in Minnesota granite, and the remaining floors are covered in Maryland marble. Do you see that large arched front door at the bottom of the tower, on the Grand Blvd side of the building? That's the door I'd like you to go into the building through. If you can't, make your way there after gaining entrance elsewhere. The 2nd photo below shows a drone shot of the tower of the Fisher Building peeking out over Cadillac Place, taken from near Woodward and Baltimore.

The Fisher Building, photographed from across Grand Blvd in front of Cadillac Place. The lower three stories are clad in Minnesota granite, and the remaining floors are covered in Maryland marble.

General Motors Building (GM Building, now known as Cadillac Place) was, upon completion in 1923, the second largest building in the world. Behind it is the Fisher Building, completed in 1928. Both structures were from the firm of Albert Kahn, Architects and Engineers. The lavish interior of the public areas, beautifully restored, offers a glimpse if what the Romans might have built had they the resources of General Motors in the 1920s. A cartouche over the main Grand Boulevard entrance bears the letter "D", a vestige of the original plan to name the building after GM's founder and president, William C. 'Billy' Durant. Prior to completion, Durant was ousted from the company, so the name 'General Motors Building' was used instead. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadillac_Place

If you enter the Fisher Building through the large arched doorway on Grand Blvd, you'll find yourself in a short hallway (1st photo below) leading past the security desk into what I call the "Central Lobby". The 2nd photo below shows the ceiling of that Grand Blvd entrance hallway. The 3rd photo below looks up from close to the Central Lobby; A bank of elevators which are off-limits to the public is just past the left edge of the 1st photo below, and shown in the 4th photo below. The 5th photo below shows one of the arched panels on the wall just below the ceiling, this one a panel named "Architecture" depicting the Fisher Building itself. The 6th photo below shows a Music panel and a peek into a third floor hallway. Back to the 1st photo below, I hope you can see two openings on the left side of the hallway, at and just past the security desk. The first is a stairway down (to bathrooms) and the second is for the stairs to the second (and third) floor, which is currently (April 2025) only accessible if you're on a $15 tour of the building. But if you make it to the 2nd floor, you'll be able to cross the bridge that's visible at the center of the 1st photo below, crossing over the ground floor lobby. And the 3rd floor bridge is visible above that one.

Looking at the Central Lobby of the Fisher Building, and the North Lobby beyond it, from just inside the Grand Blvd entrance.

The ceiling in the Grand Blvd Entrance Hallway of the Fisher Building

Looking upward at the second and third floor bridges and ceiling of the Grand Blvd entrance hallway, from just before the Central Lobby.

Elevator hallway off the Grand Blvd Entrance Hallway in the Fisher Building

Chandelier and Architecture Panel (showing the Fisher Building) in the Grand Blvd entrance hallway of the Fisher Building

Music Panel at the inside corner oif the Grand Blvd entrance hallway in the Fisher Building, and a third floor bridge/rail/ceiling

You can tell when you've reached the Central Lobby because you'll see the roped-off floor mosaic and medallion (1st photo below), with a large round ceiling painting above it (2nd photo below), and a chandelier hanging down from it's center (3rd photo below, which also shows the 2nd and 3rd floor bridges). The 4th photo below shows this from a different viewpoint. The Central Lobby is where the two very long main lobbies in the building intersect. The lobby straight ahead from the Grand Blvd entrance is the North Lobby. The one that runs off to the left from the Central Lobby is the West Lobby.

The mosaic and medallion on the floor of the Central Lobby of the Fisher Building, where the two long lobbies meet.

Ceiling design in the Central Lobby of the Fisher Building on E Grand Blvd, in Detroit, Michigan

Ceiling and chandelier in the Central Lobby of the Fisher Building on E Grand Blvd, in Detroit, Michigan

The ceiling. chandelier, and 2nd and 3rd floor bridges in the Center Lobby of the Fisher Building, photographed from the ground floor

While you're in the Central Lobby, you should have a look at the artist Giza Maroti's Bird Mosaic, mounted to the lobby's east wall. It's shown in its entirety in the 1st photo below, and in close-up in the 2nd photo below. You can read more about it if you'd like.

The 1st photo below shows a view from the second floor bridge, through the chandelier to the arched window facing Grand Blvd. Back on the ground floor, the 2nd photo below looks through the Central Lobby in the foreground into the North Lobby (on the right) and the West Lobby (on the left). The Maroti Bird Mosaic is just off the right edge of that 2nd photo below. The 3rd and 4th photos below show the view when you walk a short way into the West (left) Lobby and look back to the Central Lobby. The Maroti mosaic is easily seen, as well as the Central Lobby in its entirety.

The Grand Blvd entrance to the Fisher Building, photographed from the 2nd floor, above the Central Lobby

The Central Lobby of the Fisher Building is in the foreground, with the West Lobby (left) and the North Lobby (right) going off into the distance.

The Central Lobby of the Fisher Building, floor to ceiling, photographed from the West Lobby with a rectilinear (normal) lens

The Central Lobby of the Fisher Building, floor to ceiling, photographed from the West Lobby with a fisheye lens

The photo below looks back toward the Central Lobby from a short distance down the North Lobby.

As you walk from the Central Lobby into the North Lobby (1st and 2nd photos below) you'll see the large bronze elevator doors that take theatergoers up to Fisher Theater on the left (3rd photo below). The 4th photo below is taken from in front of those elevator doors, showing a beatiful chandelier, the arches that line the third floor hallway, and the square openings that line the second floor hallway, and the 5th photo below is a similar view from a different vantage point. The 6th is a close-up of an interesting part of the 4th photo. The 7th is a chandelier and ceiling detail, straight up in this area. The 8th photo below looks back to the Central Lobby from this spot. On the ground floor, across the hall from those elevator doors is the elaborate Fisher Theater Entrance hallway from Second Avenue, shown the next section.

Christmas tree in the Central Lobby of the Fisher Building, looking down the North Lobby

The North Lobby of the Fisher Building. Elevater doors to the Fisher Theater are on the left.

Elevators to the Fisher Theater in the North Lobby of the Fisher Building on E Grand Blvd, in Detroit, Michigan

North Lobby of the Fisher Building, opposite the elevators to the Fisher Theater

Chandelier and second- and third-floors in the North Lobby of the Fisher Building, opposite the Theater Elevators

In the North Lobby of the Fisher Building, opposite the elevators to the Fisher Theater, is this view up to the second floor (square openings), third floor (arched openings) and eagle.

Chandelier and ceiling detail in the North Lobby of the Fisher Building

Central Lobby of the Fisher Building, photographed from part way down the North Lobby

All of the photos below show the Fisher Theater Entrance hallway, running from the entrance on Second Avenue straight to the elevator doors up to the theater. The last photo shows a small ticket booth in the vestibule of that Second Avenue entrance, and the one before that shows the grill covering the ventillation opening in that vestibule.

Fisher Theater Entrance Lobby, off the North Lobby opposite the elevators

The Fisher Theater entrance lobby, off Second Avenue, in the Fisher Building

Top of a pillar in the Fisher Theater entrance lobby, off Second Avenue, in the Fisher Building

Chandelier and ceiling in the Fisher Theater entrance lobby, off Second Avenue, in the Fisher Building

Sconces in the Fisher Theater entrance lobby, off Second Avenue, in the Fisher Building

Ventillation grating in the vestibule of the Second Avenue entrance

Ticket booth at the Fisher Building, at the Fisher Theater entrance on Second Ave

Further down the North Lobby (1st and 2nd photos below) are shops, and there is another hallway on the right side, with elevator banks and an exterior entrance/exit. Closeups of some of the details in this part of the ceiling are shown in the 3rd through 6th photos below. The elevator hallway is shown from within the North Lobby in the 7th photo below.

The North Lobby of the Fisher Building. Elevater doors to the Fisher Theater are on the left.

The North Lobby of the Fisher Building, photographed from about 1/4 of the way down, in front of the elevator doors out-of-frame on left.

Ceiling details in the North Lobby of the Fisher Building

Ceiling in the North Lobby where the Theater Elevator area changes to shops

Ceiling details in the North Lobby of the Fisher Building

Elevator Lobby and entrance off the North Lobby (North of the Fisher Theater entrance), with 2nd floor hallway above it.

Inside that elevator hallway, the six intricate bronze elevator doors are shown in close-up, plus 2 full doors, plus 2 closer-ups in the photos below.

Left-side elevator door on north wall of the elevator hallway off the North Lobby of the Fisher Building - Commerce, Mining, Engineering and Chemistry

Center elevator door on north wall of the elevator hallway off the North Lobby of the Fisher Building - Architecture, Music, Commerce and Manufacture

Right-side elevator door on north wall of the elevator hallway off the North Lobby of the Fisher Building - Agriculture, Finance, Engineering and Music

Right-side elevator door on north wall of the elevator hallway off the North Lobby of the Fisher Building

Left-side elevator door on south wall of the elevator hallway off the North Lobby of the Fisher Building - Engineering, Chemistry, Arts and Manufacture

Center elevator door on south wall of the elevator hallway off the North Lobby of the Fisher Building - Commerce, Manufacture, Agriculture and Chemistry

Center elevator door on south wall of the elevator hallway off the North Lobby of the Fisher Building

Right-side elevator door on south wall of the elevator hallway off the North Lobby of the Fisher Building - Architecture, Finance, Arts and Mining

Elevator door detail in the North Lobby of the Fisher Building on E Grand Blvd, in Detroit, Michigan

Back out in the North Lobby, be sure to have a good look at the barrel-vault ceiling and second and third floors. The ceilings were designed by Hungarian artist Geza Maroti (the guy who made the Bird Mosaic in the Central Lobby), and were painted by Thomas di Lorenzo in only two months. The 4th photo below looks back toward the Central Lobby from about half way down the North Lobby.

Ceiling of the North Lobby hallway in the Fisher Building

Ceiling and chandelier in the North Lobby of the Fisher Building on E Grand Blvd, in Detroit, Michigan

A door handle in the North Lobby of the Fisher Building, just to the north (left) of the north lobby elevator bank

Central Lobby (in the distance) of the Fisher Building, photographed from half way down the North Lobby, featuring the detailed ceiling of the North Lobby.

Eagle mosaic on the south wall of the West Lobby, right next to the Central Lobby in the Fisher Building

Eagle mosaic on the north wall of the West Lobby, right next to the Central Lobby in the Fisher Building

West Lobby of the Fisher Building on E Grand Blvd, in Detroit, Michigan

Ceiling detail in the West Lobby of the Fisher Building

Ceiling and chandelier in the West Lobby of the Fisher Building on E Grand Blvd, in Detroit, Michigan

Art Deco light fixture above the Central Lobby of the Fisher Building, photographed from the 2nd floor, looking down the North Lobby

North Lobby hallway in the Fisher Building, from the 2nd floor

West Lobby hallway in the Fisher Building, from the 2nd floor

Art Deco light fixture in the Fisher Building, above the theater elevators, from the 2nd or 3rd floor

North Lobby of the Fisher Building, from the 2nd floor

West Lobby of the Fisher Building, from the 2nd floor

The Heart in the Fisher Building, photographed from the 2nd floor

Looking through a rail grating into the West Lobby of the Fisher Building, from the 2nd or 3rd floor

Looking through a third floor archway at the arch between the North Lobby and the Central Lobby, and the arch between the Central Lobby and the West Lobby of the Fisher Building

The top of the Fisher Building's facade, above the Grand Blvd Entrance

Gargoyles and decorations near the top fo the Fisher Building's facade, above the Grand Blvd Entrance

The arched windows and masks on the 10th floor of the Fisher Building, above the Grand Blvd Entrance.

Feaux-balcony on the 22nd floor of the Fisher Building and decorative details to it's left

The top of the left (west) edge of the Grand Blvd facade of the Fisher Building

A close-up of some work being done near the top of the Grand Blvd facade of the tower of the Fisher Building

The top of the right (east) edge of the Grand Blvd facade of the Fisher Building

Details just above the Grand Blvd Entrance to the Fisher Building

Downtown Detroit, from the 22nd floor of the Fisher Building