611 Woodward Avenue was completed in 1959 as the new National Bank of Detroit (NBD) headquarters. The bank was previously located inside the First National Building, located across the street. The new building was designed by Albert Kahn Associates, not Kahn himself, who died 17 years earlier. It was among the first of a wave of structures of modernity that arose from the ashes of perhaps the darkest period in Detroit's architectural history. In fact, not one, but two late 19th century buildings were sacrificed in this case - Detroit's first skyscraper, the Hammond Building (1889, George H. Edbrooke) and the original Union Trust Building (1896, Donaldson & Meier). The latter half of the 20th century saw a movement to "modernize" cities around the globe. This movement, known as urban renewal, saw older architecture be replaced with sleek, modern designs. Detroit was arguably the epicenter of this movement. Unfortunately, along with the aforementioned buildings, the city's beloved (and much missed) Old City Hall (1871, James Anderson), the Majestic Building, Detroit's second skyscraper (1896, D. H. Burnham & Company) and many more would meet the wrecking ball during this era. The new NBD headquarters is an example of curtain wall architecture, meaning the exterior walls are non-structural and utilized only to keep weather out and occupants in. But let's be honest, it resembles a giant cheese grater, doesn't it? Admit it! After several mergers, the building is now home to Chase Bank. It was purchased by billionaire Dan Gilbert in 2011 and renamed The Qube. WXYZ-TV, the local ABC affiliate, opened a downtown studio on the first floor in 2014. #Detroit #Downtown #FinancialDistrict #CurtainWall #Modernism #AlbertKahnAssociates #WoodwardAvenue #archi_ologie #MidModMondays #ModMondayz #RawDetroit #PureMichigan #PureMittigan #MotorCityShooters #PureDetroit313 #DepictTheD #VisitDetroit #Michiganders #ThisPlaceMatters #ThisPlaceMattersDetroit #MichiganPlacesMatter (at The Qube WXYZ Downtown Studio) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-8eacMDN66/?igshid=1d2e1kcc7calc
