Penobscot building

[Gistok]

I always wondered why the lobby for such an important building is so bland. Thank you for posting this photo. Any idea when the modernization was done?

NSortzi... sometimes it becomes very hard to find info on when a change was made to buildings downtown.

I accidentally stumbled on when the David Whitney Building had its' external modernization, came across that by accident. In 1959 the Otto Preminger film ANATOMY OF A MURDER [[Jimmy Stewart, Ben Gazarra, Lee Remick) had its' world premier in Detroit at the United Artists Theatre nearby. It was in July, and the characters were in a motorcade that came down Woodward and across Grand Circus Park. In the footage, on the way to the United Artists, you can see scaffolding covering the entirety of the David Whitney Building.

Now mercifully, it's been restored to its' 1915 appearance, a crown jewel by famous American architect Daniel Burnham. Fortunately the 4 story opulent atrium of the 18 story David Whitney was never altered... just restored recently.

[archfan]

...
Now mercifully, it's been restored to its' 1915 appearance, a crown jewel by famous American architect Daniel Burnham. Fortunately the 4 story opulent atrium of the 18 story David Whitney was never altered... just restored recently.

That atrium is awesome, and it was beautifully restored.

If I were going to do a tour of Detroit lobbies, David Whitney would definitely be on it, but probably not the Penobscot.