Penobscot Building (1905)

Penobscot Building
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
Location	131 West Fort Street Detroit, Michigan
Coordinates
Built	1905-06
Architect	Donaldson and Meier
Architectural style	Beaux-Arts
Part of	Detroit Financial District (#09001067)
Designated CP	December 14, 2009

This article is about the original "Penobscot Building". For other buildings also part of the Penobscot Block, see: Penobscot Building Annex and Penobscot Building.

The Penobscot Building is the original 13-story building of the Penobscot Block complex in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It is the first Penobscot Building, and one of three buildings of the same name in the later-constructed complex. It is located at 131 West Fort Street, within the Detroit Financial District.

History

The Penobscot Building was designed in the Beaux-Arts style, and incorporates brick and stone into its materials. Construction began in 1904 and was completed in 1905. Its building was financed by prominent Detroit businessmen, including lumberman Simon J. Murphy, Sr..

Architecture

The lower three stories of the building are faced in limestone, the middle seven in brick, and the upper three in terra cotta. The façade is divided into five bays, each with a pair of double-hung windows. Corinthian column piers front the eleventh and twelfth stories, and the original building cornice has been removed.

Present day

The present day use of the office building is primarily for retail shops and services. It is a contributing property in the Detroit Financial Historic District, and on the National Register of Historic Places.

See also

• Penobscot Building (47-story tower)
• Penobscot Building Annex
• Penobscot Block
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Detroit, Michigan

External links

• Official Penobscot Building website
• Google Maps location of The Penobscot Building
• The Original Penobscot Building details
• SkyscraperPage.com's Profile on the original Penobscot Building