The biography of Albert Kahn is gathered from many internet and text sources. Though every attempt is made to present up-to-date and accurate information, we cannot guarantee that inaccuracies will not occur. All rights reserved.
Architect Biography: Albert Kahn
Albert Kahn is one of the most famous architects that ever held practice in Detroit. He was the top industrial architect of his time.
Birth: March 21st, 1869 in Rhaunen, Westphalia, GermanyDeath: December 8th, 1942 in Detroit, Michigan, USA
Office: Union Trust Building (Guardian Building)
He is buried at the White Chapel Memorial Cemetery in Troy, Michigan.
Born into a poor German family that later immigrated to Detroit at the age of 11. He had to work odd jobs to support his family, which meant he could not continue playing piano by the age of seven, in which he was considered a prodigy. He later wanted to become an artist, but it was soon discovered he was colorblind.
At age 15, he joined the firm of Mason & Rice, without pay. George Mason took an interest in Kahn, and taught him how to draft. Kahn soon won a scholarship to study abroad in Europe.
This knowledge helped to transform Kahn into the leading industrial architect in the area. His plants were of European Modernism architectural style. He began to implement reinforced-concrete starting with the Packard Plant, and windows that brought in light. It instantly created a new standard for industrial plants across the world.
He founded Albert Kahn Associates in 1895, which is still designing buildings to this date.
When the depression hit, Kahn and his firm designed 521 factories in the Soviet Union, and trained more than 1,000 engineers.
Even though Kahn was most famous for industrial architecture, he had many other commissions such as clubs, hotels, office buildings, and many structures for the Jewish community. He also designed many buildings for the University of Michigan.
Some say Kahn's work took a strain on him, and he worked long hours. His career ended in 1942, at the age of 73.
Albert Kahn and his firm designed the following buildings:
Albert Kahn Building (AKA New Center Building) - 7430 2nd Ave. [Detroit]
Argonaut Building (AKA General Motors Laboratory Bldg.) - 485 West Milwaukee St. [Detroit]
Bank One Building (AKA National Bank of Detroit Bldg.) - 611 Woodward Ave. [Detroit]
Belle Isle Conservatory - Belle Isle [Detroit]
Cadillac Place (AKA General Motors Building) 3044 West Grand Blvd. - [Detroit]
Cranbrook House
Dearborn Inn - [Dearborn]
Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant - [Detroit]
Detroit Athletic Club - [Detroit]
Detroit News Building - [Detroit]
Detroit Opera House (Restoration) (AKA Grand Circus, Capitol, Broadway-Capitol, Paramount) - 1526 Broadway [Detroit]
Detroit Police Headquarters - [Detroit]
Detroit Times Building - Cass & State - [Detroit]
Detroit Trust Company Building- 201 W. Fort St.[Detroit]
Detroit Urban League (AKA Albert Kahn House) - [Detroit]
Dodge Truck Plant - [Detroit]
Donovan Building (AKA Motown Building) - 2457 Woodward Ave. [Detroit]
Downtown YWCA (AKA YWCA Central Branch) - 2230 Witherell [Detroit]
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House
Edwin S. George Building (AKA Garfield Building)- 4612 Woodward Ave. [Detroit]
First National Bank Building - 660 Woodward Ave. [Detroit]
Fisher Body Plant 21 - Piquette Ave. [Detroit]
Fisher Building - [Detroit]
Ford Highland Park Plant - [Highland Park]
Ford Rotunda
Fort Shelby Hotel (Addition) - 525 W. Lafayette St. [Detroit]
Free Press Building - 321 W. Lafayette [Detroit]
Garden Court Apartments - 2900 E. Jefferson Ave. [Detroit]
Grand Trunk Building - [Detroit]
Grinnell Bros. Music Building - Woodward Ave. [Detroit]
Griswold Apartments (AKA Griswold Building) - 1214 Griswold St. [Detroit]
Henry Ford Apartments (AKA HF Apartments) - 1350 W. Bethune St. [Detroit]
Jefferson Theatre - 11008 E. Jefferson Ave. [Detroit]
Kales Building (AKA Kresge Building) - 76 W. Adams AVe. [Detroit]
Livingstone Lighthouse - Belle Isle [Detroit]
Maccabees Building - [Detroit]
Michigan Hall of Justice
National Theatre - 118 Monroe St. [Detroit]
Olde Building - [Detroit]
Packard Plant - [Detroit]
Palms Apartment Building - [Detroit]
Park Avenue Building - 2001 Park Ave. [Detroit]
Temple Beth-El (Before it became Bonstelle Theatre) - 3424 Woodward Ave. [Detroit]
Vinton Building - 600 Woodward Ave. [Detroit]
Willow Run Bomber Plant - [Ypsilanti]
Woodward Building - 1451 Woodward Ave. [Detroit]
