Cadillac Tower

The Cadillac Tower, originally known as the Barlum Tower, is a 40-story skyscraper located in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. At the time of its completion in 1927, it was the tallest building in Detroit and among the first skyscrapers outside of New York City and Chicago to surpass 400 feet in height. Standing at 176.2 meters (578 feet) to its antenna spire and 133.4 meters (438 feet) to its roof, the building remains a prominent feature of the Detroit skyline. The building was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2005 and is currently owned by Bedrock Detroit, the real estate firm controlled by billionaire Dan Gilbert.

History

The Cadillac Tower's construction began in 1926 and was rapidly completed, officially opening on November 9, 1927. The project was spearheaded and financed by John J. Barlum, president of the Barlum Realty Co. and the New Cadillac Development Co., who gave the building its original name. Barlum's wealth originated in his family's meat-packing business, which he and his brothers, Thomas and Louis, leveraged into substantial real estate investments. The building was designed by the architectural firm Bonnah & Chaffee.

The speed of construction was remarkable for the era. The first piece of steel was set in place on May 9, 1927, and the entire steel structure was completed just weeks later, with the building opening to tenants before the end of the year. Despite its early grandeur, the building's interior has largely lost its original features and design elements over time through successive renovations. The exterior, however, has remained remarkably well-preserved, retaining much of its original terra cotta ornamentation.

The Cadillac Tower was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on July 27, 2005, in recognition of its architectural significance and its role in Detroit's early twentieth-century commercial development.

Geography

The Cadillac Tower is situated at 65 Cadillac Square in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. Its location places it directly adjacent to Campus Martius Park and overlooking Cadillac Square, positioning it at one of the most historically significant intersections in the city's downtown core. The building sits within the broader Monroe Block, a city block that has become a focal point of Bedrock Detroit's long-term redevelopment plans for the Cadillac Square area. The building's coordinates are 42°19′55″N 83°02′42″W.

A notable geographical characteristic of the building's design is the blank brick wall facing Campus Martius for the first 35 stories. This unusual feature resulted from the former presence of the Cadillac Square Building next door. When the Cadillac Tower was constructed, planners anticipated that the adjacent building would remain indefinitely, eliminating any practical need for windows on that side. The Cadillac Square Building was eventually demolished, leaving the tower's blind wall exposed to one of Downtown Detroit's most prominent public spaces — a visible reminder of how urban assumptions shape architectural decisions.

Architecture

The Cadillac Tower is designed primarily in the Beaux-Arts style, evident in its symmetrical facade, ornate detailing, and use of classical architectural elements, while also incorporating Neo-Gothic and Chicago School influences. The exterior is constructed primarily from terra cotta and brick. The lower floors feature a white terra cotta base, while golden accents highlight the top five floors, window arches, and roofline spires, giving the upper portion of the building a distinctive warm tone when viewed against the skyline. The windows feature Gothic arches, contributing to the building's vertical emphasis and ornamental richness.

The roofline is adorned with newels and cone-shaped spires on the corners, accentuating the tower's verticality and providing a dramatic silhouette when viewed from street level or from Campus Martius Park. The use of terra cotta throughout — both in the neutral base and in the gilded upper registers — provides textural depth and a sense of permanence characteristic of late 1920s commercial architecture in the American Midwest. The building's design reflects the architectural ambitions of Detroit's boom years, blending classical European traditions with the structural confidence of the emerging American skyscraper.

Current Status and Ownership

Bedrock Detroit, the real estate company founded by Quicken Loans billionaire Dan Gilbert, acquired the Cadillac Tower as part of its extensive downtown Detroit property portfolio. The building has been vacant in recent years, and its future redevelopment has become closely tied to Bedrock's broader plans for the Monroe Block — the city block on which the tower sits.

As of 2025 and into 2026, Bedrock has been in early talks with the City of Detroit about reviving the Monroe Street Midway concept, a mixed-use entertainment and commercial corridor adjacent to the tower. Bedrock's firm has also been reported to be borrowing approximately $150 million in state bond financing to support its broader portfolio of downtown Detroit projects, which includes properties in the Monroe Block area. The Monroe Block project has been subject to multiple redesigns and reductions in scope since its initial announcement, reflecting broader post-pandemic challenges facing downtown Detroit real estate development.

The Cadillac Tower's renovation and reactivation remains one of the more closely watched preservation and redevelopment efforts in Detroit, given the building's historical significance, its prominent location at Cadillac Square, and the scale of investment required to return a 40-story, nearly century-old skyscraper to active use.

Economy

The Cadillac Tower is designated for commercial office use, with a total floor area of 31,773 square meters (342,000 square feet) spread across 40 floors above grade, with two additional floors below ground. Bedrock Detroit manages the property, overseeing its leasing, maintenance, and long-term repositioning within the downtown market.

The building operated as a continuously tenanted commercial office tower for most of its history following its 1927 opening, serving as a business address for a range of Detroit-area companies and organizations across several decades. Its current vacancy and planned redevelopment reflect the broader pressures facing legacy office towers in mid-sized American cities following the COVID-19 pandemic and the structural decline of downtown office demand.

Transportation

The Cadillac Tower's central location in Downtown Detroit provides access to multiple modes of transportation. The building is accessible by several Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) bus routes that serve the Cadillac Square and Campus Martius area, and the Detroit People Mover — the elevated light rail loop encircling downtown — has stops within walking distance of the tower. Several public and private parking garages are located in the immediate vicinity for those arriving by car. The building is within walking distance of Campus Martius Park, the Fox Theatre, and the broader Detroit Financial District, placing it at the center of Downtown Detroit's pedestrian activity.

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