Guardian Building Essay

Standing at 500 Griswold Street in downtown Detroit, the Guardian Building is one of Detroit’s most extravagant historic landmarks. The Guardian Building opened in 1929 in the financial district; built for the Union Trust Company, after a two year long process of construction and design. Today, the Guardian Building is owned by Wayne County, becoming its official headquarters. I fully support my group’s choice of the Guardian Building representing who we are as Detroit because it is a standing embodiment of Detroit’s artistic and architectural advancements as well as the city’s rise and decline of success; giving it the ability to illustrate the perseverance that great cities possess.

We are visionaries. Detroit is a city that is made up of many defining layers. One layer in particular is its impressive architectural and artistic

landmarks. The grandiose nature of the Guardian Building is due to its construction in an era that enjoyed an economic boom; Detroit, specifically, was thriving over the ever-growing automobile industry. The 1920s were a fashionable era and within it, the Art Deco trend started, inspiring the style of the skyscraper; “The Guardian Building is one of the most significant and striking Art Deco skyscrapers in the world”.

The Art Deco aspects of the skyscraper gave it free reign to deviate from the classical American way of building and gave it a more worldly edge. The building includes imported Travertine marble from Italy and black marble from Belgium in order to build the towering columns of the main lobby. Upon visiting the building, one is overcome by the architecture incorporated in the main lobby, as the European inspired columns and Native American designs work to juxtapose each other in a unique and very appealing way. The Guardian Building is a prime example of Detroit’s visionary side, as well as its conglomeration of diverse and cultural aspects; “Visitors are awestruck by the explosion of color, craftsmanship and blending of Native American, Aztec, and Arts & Crafts influences”. The various Native American inspired details work to pay homage to the original inhabitants of the area, as well as adding a unique artistic flair to the building. Further examples

illustrating the diverse aspects of the design of the building include the marble used in the main lobby; “Numidian marble was chosen for its unusual blood-red color. No mines in the world quarried it at the time, so Rowland went to Africa, where a mine that had been closed for 30 years was reopened just long enough for Rowland to pick out the marble he needed for the lobby”. The European, Native American, and African features included in the Guardian Building represent Detroit in the way of mimicking its diverse population through the medium of architecture and design. It offers representation of many areas and cultures around the world, appealing to the greater majority of the population.
We are survivors. Both the Guardian Building and Detroit itself have gone through periods of success, as well as failure. The Guardian Building’s sky-rocketing high and eventual decline is metaphorically parallel to the city of Detroit itself. The skyscraper opened to the absolute thrill of the city of Detroit; “Of all these manmade mountains, the Guardian Building was the most original and, indeed, the most daring. In a world where skyscrapers tended to be gray and sheathed in limestone and marble, the Guardian Building’s facades were bright orange brick accented with ceramic tile from two different houses. Thus it is not surprising that the building was a topic of headlines when it opened in March 1929”. The Guardian Building was the belle of the ball, the new and fancy toy of Detroit. The city was proud to host such a breakthrough in skyscraper design. Unfortunately, the Guardian Building’s star burnt out not a year after its opening due to the stock-market crash of 1929 and the ruin of the Union Trust Company. The Union Trust Company was unable to keep its head above water and “On March 31, 1933, former governor of Michigan Alex J. Groesbeck was appointed receiver for the Guardian Group, bringing an unfortunate end to the progressive UGT”. Following the loss of the Union Trust Company, the Guardian Building came under the ownership of various companies, until finally, Wayne County bought it up and used it for headquarters. Today, the building stands as any other skyscraper in the city does; beautiful, but tired. As I visited the building recently, I could not help but notice how uninterested the people walking by it seemed. No one stopped to admire, or even glance at the artful building. Just as Detroit went through a period of wild success and excitement, so did the Guardian Building. In the past, however, both Detroit and the Guardian Building got left behind in the dust as time went on. Though, despite the low points, both the skyscraper and the city stand to this day, melancholy as the ghosts of their previous success linger on, yet still glowing with the light and promise of a brighter future.
In the end, the story of the Guardian Building represents Detroit in a parallel fashion. They both continue to power on despite having muddy pasts. The Guardian Building is a work of art and was built with great consideration by architects and designers. The hard work that went into building the magnificent skyscraper is what is ultimately keeping it alive today. The city of Detroit is no different as it too was built as the product of grit and dedication. When it comes to cities, the Guardian Building can teach us that when the roots have been properly planted, a long life is guaranteed despite any storm that may come its way. If a city is built with planning and care, it will be able to persevere through any hardship. As Detroit, we are visionaries and apt to perseverance; as illustrated time and again by the skyscraper. The Guardian Building has stood for eighty-five years and shall continue to persevere for many years after. It was built with the intent to succeed.