| J.L. Hudson Building | |
|---|---|
| JLHudsonsPostcard.jpg Postcard c. 1951 |
|
| General information | |
| Status | Demolished |
| Type | Retail, Office space |
| Location | Detroit, Michigan, USA |
| Coordinates | |
| Construction started | 1911 |
| Completed | 1946 |
| Opening | 1911 |
| Closed | 1983 |
| Demolished | October 1997 to October 24, 1998 |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 520 ft (160 m) |
| Roof | 439 ft (134 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 29 |
| Floor area | 723,422 sq ft (67,208.1 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Smith, Hinchman, & Grylls |
The J.L. Hudson Building ("Hudson's") was a department store in Detroit, Michigan, which occupied the address of 1206 Woodward Avenue. It was constructed beginning in 1911, with additions throughout the years, before being "completed" in 1946, and named after the company's founder, Joseph Lowthian Hudson. Hudson's first building on the site actually opened in 1891 but was demolished in 1923 for a new structure. The building was destroyed in a controlled demolition on October 24, 1998, with many people in Hart Plaza (Detroit) and Dieppe Gardens (Windsor, Ontario) watching from safe distances.
Contents |
Designed by Smith, Hinchman, & Grylls, Hudson's consisted of approximately 33 levels: five basements, main floor, mezzanine, 2nd through 15th floors, 15 1/2 floor, 16th through 21st floors, 21 1/2 floor, and 22nd through 25th floors. Only the upper two basements through the 12th floor covered the entire footprint of the structure. A tower rose over 400 feet above the Farmer Street side. On all 4 sides of it, porcelain-covered copper letters flashed "HUDSON'S" in red neon.
Hudson's boasted about 2.2 million sq. ft. of retail and office space, included several restaurants and was built in the Chicago School architectural style. The facade was red brick above the second floor. Below that, it consisted of polished pink granite panels. Terra-cotta cornices and rosettes were extensively employed, along with ornamental ironwork. "JLH"- emblazoned ovals decorated frosted windows on the mezzanine and 3rd through 5th floors.
The building measured 439 feet (134 m) tall from its second basement to the top of the penthouse tower. It was also topped by a 110 feet (34 m) high flagpole.
Hudson's was demolished by Controlled Demolition, Inc. at exactly 5:47 pm, October 24, 1998. 20,000 people watched as the building was imploded which turned the building into a 60-foot (18 m) tall pile of debris. The demolition of this building accidentally damaged a section of the elevated Detroit People Mover in downtown Detroit.
Many restoration efforts were proposed prior to demolition. Demolition of this building was controversial as many in the area had great emotional attachments to the building and chain.