Program - Society of Architectural Historians

living at its best with the Charles Lang Freer House and East Ferry
Street. Our last stop will be at the Ecumenical Theological Seminary
(First Presbyterian Church) where we will enjoy refreshments and
observe firsthand how the automobile affected Detroit’s early
architecture.
1:00-4:30 p.m.
Maximum number of participants: 40
Mobility level 1
Cost: $45 Includes transportation, donation to Seminary,
bottle of water
AIA/CES: 3.5 LU
TR2 GM Tech Center
Susan Skarsgard, Global Industrial Design Manger,
General Motors, Tour Leader
The General Motors Technical Center in Warren,
Michigan is considered a masterpiece of modern industrial
architectural design. It was a celebrated architect Eero Saarinen’s
first major commission and, at its opening in 1956, was declared by
Life magazine to be the “Versailles of Industry.” Susan Skarsgard, a
designer at GM, has researched and designed a one-of-a-kind book
documenting this important project from its inception to completion
and will present a virtual tour of this unique, unpublished, impressive
story that illustrates the Saarinen/GM history with beautiful
vintage photos from GM’s private archives. You will be allowed to
briefly tour the Research and Design Buildings.
No image-capturing devices will be allowed,
including cell phones. This is the only day this
tour will be offered.
Sponsor: State Historic Preservation Office, Michigan State
Housing Development Authority
1:00–5:00 p.m.
Maximum number of participants: 80; photo ID
required
Mobility level 1
Cost: $40 Includes transportation, bottle of water
AIA/CES: 4 LU
THURSDAY, APRIL 19
TR3 Detroit Modern: Civic Center/Financial District
Tour
Deborah Goldstein, Detroit Historic Designation
Advisory Board, Tour Leader
The end of World War II ushered in an era of prosperity
for the nation and Detroit. Pent-up demand for manufactured
products, specifically automobiles, cemented Detroit’s status as
a world financial leader. Detroit’s prominence as the fifth largest
city in the nation was reflected in its architecture. New building
materials and prefabricated building techniques developed for the
war effort were put to use in building design and construction. Internationally
acclaimed architects Eliel and Eero Saarinen planned a
civic center befitting of a city on an international waterway. Minoru
Yamasaki was invited to join the existing Detroit firm of Smith,
47 / wednesday / THURSDAY • Tours \