Downtown Lighting

Now that the Super Bowl is drawing nearer, exterior lighting schemes are popping up on more and more buildings downtown in an attempt at highlighting their architecture. The city has installed spotlights aimed at certain buildings. That’s great, except that some of the buildings are abandoned. I just hope the city can keep the lights on. I’ve only seen the lights on in Grand Circus Park three times this year, and two of those times were during the All Star Game week!

Here’s a look at some lighting schemes on buildings.

The abandoned Wurlitzer Building on Broadway looks great with its new scheme, despite not having had tenants since the 1980s.


The Schwankovsky Temple of Music on Woodward Avenue also has spotlights aimed at it now. The building was designed by Gordon W. Lloyd and was one of the first buildings in the city to have an electric elevator. It was built for the F. J. Schwankovsky Company, which sold musical instruments. However, most Detroiters know it as the home of Wright Kay Jewelers, which occupied the building from 1920 until 1978.


Built in 1914 and designed by Detroit architect Albert Kahn for the S.S. Kresge Company, the Kales Building is now home to loft apartments.


The Union Trust Bank’s cathedral of commerce was completed in 1929. A subtle light washes up its brick walls. The building was once the tallest freestanding brick building in the world.


Not to be confused with the Guardian, the David Stott Building in Capitol Park now has its exterior lights on regularly. The building once suffered from poor management and low occupancy. In 1994 its electricity was shut off and the tenants had to raise enough money to get it turned back on. Since then the building has been renovated floor by floor.


Finally, the buildings that make up the Lofts of Merchants Row have exterior lighting. Looking Good!