Guardian Building Bridge

Photo credit: Rob Saxon

Walking along Larned to work each day, I make it a point to gaze up. Towering over morning commuters is a skybridge that connects two of Detroit's most iconic skyscrapers: The Art Deco style Guarding Building and the International style One Woodward. The bridge's sleekly polished metal panels and rounded corners pays no respect to either style. And like a meat skewer, shamelessly pierces the skin of both buildings and connects their internal arteries.

Skybridge connecting One Woodward (left) and
The Guardian Building (right)
photo credit: Esoteric Survey

Each day I look up and the curious designer in me asks:

Why was the bridge placed so high?

On the Guardian side, the bridge inserts into a large slot cut into the building's southeast corner. The dramatic modification is increased by the corner's taper.  Because the bridge isn't perpendicular to the Guardian building's exterior, one can see the bridge penetrating into the building.  And because the bridge's east facade isn't flush with the Guardian's facade, the design gives the illusion that the opening isn't quite large enough.

The Skybridge inserts into an opening cut into
the southeast corner of the Guardian Building
photo credit: Roadside Architecture.com

On One Woodward's side, the bridge is almost perfectly centered on the north face.  The building's delicate skin is pierced with the precision of a needle. The bridge surgically connects into what appears to be a former public restroom, but there is no hint of how the bridge is supported.  The engineer in me wonders what amount of shear force would cause the bridge to break catatrophically from the face of the building. 

Skybridge connection to One Woodward
Photo credit: Rob Saxon

Using the internet to find documentation on the bridge proved difficult. But despite limited information, below is the story of two buildings and its mysterious skybridge.  I welcome photos or comments that fill in missing information.

1929
The story begins in 1929 with the construction of the 36-story Guarding Building.  Originally known as the Union Trust Building, it was designed by Wirt C. Rowland, who at the time was employed by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls. Known today as The Smith Group JJR, the historic firm is located on the building's 17th floor.  It was nicknamed the Cathedral of Finance and is particularly known for it's vaulted Lobby and pewabic tile decorated Banking Hall. After an award winning renovation, it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989.

By I, Mikerussell
Photo Credit

By Michael Barera
Photo Credit

1958

In 1958, Minoru Yamasaki, in association with Smith, Hinchman and Grylls, is asked to design a headquarters for the Michigan Consolidated Gas Company (nicknamed "Michcon"). Michcon was created by the merger of four gas companies in 1937. And in 1949, The American Natural Gas Company or ANR became its parent company. This would be Yamasaki's first skyscraper and he would later use many of its design elements on in his more famous World Trade Center formerly located in New York City.  The new skyscraper became known as the ANR building. It would later be renamed One Woodward.

One Woodward Avenue
Minoru Yamasaki
photo credit

1972
By the 1970s, employees of both Michcon and ANR were located in both buildings. To ease movement between the two buildings, the Detroit based architectural firm Rossetti Associates, was hired to design and oversee the construction of a bridge.  More specifically, to design a bridge giving Guardian Building employees access to One Woodward's cafeteria (see citation).  The bridge was therefore located at the Guarding Building's 16th floor and at One Woodward's 15th floor. Quoting a former employee of ANR, "For several years, the company cafeteria was in One Woodward, so the skywalk was handy." (see citation)

1990s
By the 1990s, ANR had divested itself of Michcon and relocated its employees.  Remaining Michcon employees were relocated to the adjacent Guardian building.  The ANR building was sold and re-named One Woodward.  It's at this time that I believe the bridge is closed.

Khalil Rahal, Interim Director of the Wayne County
Economic Development Corp., walks across the unused bridge
Photo credit: Glenn Triest

2000s
Michcon is reorganized as the MCN Energy Group.  In 2001, the MCN Energy Group merges with DTE Energy.  One year later, DTE Energy sells the Guardian Building to a private real estate investor: The Sterling Group.

In 2005, David Shock commissioned a proposal to convert the skybridge into a bar.  Three designers at M1/DTW, Christian Unverzagt, Kristen Dean and Emily Kutil, complete the design. Below are photos borrowed from the proposal.  The design is reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey.  I can almost feel myself floating weightless through the space.  Go to this link for additional photos.

Photo credit: M1/DTW

Photo credit: M1/DTW

Photo credit: M1/DTW

In 2007, The Sterling Group sold The Guardian Building to Wayne County. To this day, David Shock continues to work on gaining the County's support for his skybar proposal (see article in Curbed Detroit).

In 2012, Dan Gilbert's Rock Ventures purchased One Woodward.  The building is renamed Fifth Third at One Woodward in 2014 after Fifth Third Bank agrees to relocate it's headquarters in the building.

In 2018, the bridge is outfitted with lights making it a "floating bar of lights".  Designed by artist Phillip K. Smith, III and facilitated by the Detroit's Library Street Collective Gallery, the bridge is adorned with shifting colored lights. In the words of Smith,

"By day, the Skybridge will continue to be seen as its historical self within the architecture and massing of downtown.  But by night, it will become a beacon for the beauty, creativity, and innovation of Detroit."

"Floating Bar of Lights" designed by Phillip K. Smith, III and facilitated
by the Detroit's Library Street Collective Gallery
Photos Credit: Lance Gerber 

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Wikipedia, Guardian Building, Website.

Wikipedia, One Woodward Avenue, Website.

Discuss Detroit, Guardian Building Skybridge, Website.

Tsai, Janis, "The Surprising Link Between Detroit's One Woodward Avenue and the Original World Trade Center," Daily Detroit, Sept. 14, 2015.

Michigan Modern, Michigan Consolidated Gas Company Building, Website.

McGeen, Denise, Historic Detroit, One Woodward Avenue, Website.

"A 7 Year Fight for the Guardian Building's Tube Bar Proposal," Curbed Detroit, March 12, 2012.

DTE Energy, A History as a Natural Gas Utility, Website.

Funding Universe, ANR Pipeline Co. History, Website.

M1/DTW, United Bar, Website.

DeVito, Lee, 'Detroit Skybridge' will turn into 'a floating bar of light' this weekend', Detroit MetroTimes, August 22, 2018.