09/16/2026
🏛️ Detroit History: The Guardian Building
Standing proudly in Downtown Detroit since 1929, the Guardian Building is one of the city’s most recognizable architectural landmarks. Originally opened as the Union Trust Building, the 40-story skyscraper was designed by architect Wirt C. Rowland during Detroit’s booming industrial era and quickly became known as the “Cathedral of Finance.”
The building is a masterpiece of Art Deco architecture, with nearly two million custom orange bricks, colorful Rookwood and Pewabic tile, marble, intricate metalwork, and artwork by Michigan artists including Ezra Winter and Corrado Parducci. Its spectacular lobby was designed to represent the confidence, craftsmanship, and ambition of Detroit at the height of the Roaring Twenties.
Nearly a century later, the Guardian Building remains one of Detroit’s great architectural treasures and has been designated a National Historic Landmark. It’s more than a skyscraper—it’s a lasting piece of the story of Detroit.
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