S. S. Kresge World Headquarters Building (Detroit, Michigan)

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The Kresge firm prospered during and after World War I. During the conflict, S. S. Kresge increased the upper price limit on goods in his stores from ten cents to one dollar. Kresge needed an office building larger than the structure the firm occupied on Grand Circus Park. Once again, he turned to Albert Kahn. The location, this time, was on Second Avenue at Cass Park.

This is one of the nation’s most original and innovative office buildings designed in the 1920s. It is a limestone-faced building in the shape of a large E, providing office facilities for 1,200 Kresge employees. Terra cotta cresting is located near the Mansard roof. There is a five-and-one-half story central pavilion facing Cass Park along Second. The wings, not visible from the Park, are only four stories. Note the attention that Albert Kahn gave to orderly fenestration, thereby helping to create an emphasis upon the horizontal. He also included classical references in this essentially Art Deco building with the Doric pilasters at the protruding entrance. He used a bandcourse to separate the fourth floor from the lower levels and designed smaller windows at that height. Nevertheless, the upper windows resemble those at lower levels in style and shape. Albert Kahn designed an appealing interior with an elegance that conveyed the importance of this building to the firm. He used polished granite for the entrance with inlaid walnut paneling.

Cass Park is currently one of Detroit’s underdeveloped downtown parks. Harmonie Park on the East Side has been made quite attractive and nearby Clark Park in the Hubbard Farms areas went through tough times, but has been reclaimed and made appealing with its sculpture garden. Cass Park adjoins three of Detroit’s architectural treasurers—the new Cass Tech High School that ranks among the dozen most striking secondary schools built in the last twenty years; the massive Masonic Temple that George Mason designed and the S. S. Kresge Headquarters Building. Perhaps Cass Park will be revitalized.