One of Detroit’s most beautiful buildings is getting a careful facelift. A $5 million grant from the State of Michigan is paying for the work. Crews are restoring the building’s two ornate entrances and its marble facades on the south and west sides, and the team expects to finish this year, according to the Albert Kahn Legacy Foundation. In short, the landmark that Detroiters call the city’s largest art object is getting the detail work it deserves.
The current project is one visible piece of a much larger revival. Here is what is being fixed, why the 1928 tower matters, and who owns it now. For more of the city in progress, see our Detroit projects to watch in 2026.
At a Glance
| The building | The Fisher Building, a 1928 Albert Kahn landmark in New Center, called Detroit’s largest art object |
| Current work | Restoring two ornate entrances and the south and west exterior marble facades |
| Funding | A $5 million Community Enhancement Grant from the State of Michigan |
| Who runs it | The Albert Kahn Legacy Foundation, led by retired architect Robert Sharrow |
| Timeline | This phase is set to finish in 2026, within a longer revitalization running toward 2027 |
| Owner | The Michigan State University Endowment Fund |
| Bigger picture | Part of a proposed $100 million revitalization of the Fisher and Albert Kahn buildings |
What Is Being Restored Right Now
The current work is precise, not sweeping. Specifically, crews are restoring the brass and glass details at two entrances and the marble facades on the south and west sides. According to retired architect Robert Sharrow, who leads the foundation’s role in the project, the team used original materials and finishes to bring back the structure’s elegance.
Meanwhile, the Albert Kahn Legacy Foundation, named for the building’s architect, manages the budget and contractor payments as the grant’s fiduciary. As a result, the work stays on track to wrap this year.
Why the Fisher Building Matters
The Fisher Building earned its nickname. It opened in 1928. The seven Fisher brothers, who made a fortune building auto bodies for General Motors, poured that money into a monument. In turn, architect Albert Kahn gave them a 28-story tower with a hand-painted arcade ceiling, marble corridors, and bronze detailing. Remarkably, the whole thing went up in just 15 months. The brothers gave Kahn one instruction: build the most beautiful building in the world, whatever it cost.
Decades of care have kept that craftsmanship intact. Today the building remains a National Historic Landmark and the anchor of the New Center district. In a city where landmarks like the Renaissance Center now face partial demolition, the Fisher stands as the preservation story instead.
Who Owns It Now
The ownership has changed hands in the past decade. In 2015, a group led by Detroit-based The Platform bought the Fisher Building and the neighboring Albert Kahn Building at auction for $12.2 million. Since then, the Michigan State University Endowment Fund has become the majority owner of the entity that holds the properties. The endowment paid $21 million for a 79 percent stake in June 2023, and The Platform and the MSU Federal Credit Union hold the remaining shares. The Platform stays on as managing partner, handling operations and leasing.
That backing matters for a building this expensive to maintain. Institutional ownership gives the Fisher the long horizon that preservation on this scale requires.
The Bigger Revival
The entrance work is one line item in a much larger plan. For example, the owners have proposed a roughly $100 million long-term revitalization of the Fisher and the neighboring Albert Kahn Building. The $5 million grant funds the current phase, and the broader plan remains a proposal. The goal is to fill the building’s roughly 505,000 square feet of office space and 68,000 square feet of retail, the bulk of its 635,000 total square feet. In a notable touch, the plan sets aside the fourth floor for artists at subsidized rents. Fittingly, that honors the tower’s identity as a work of art.
Why It Matters
New construction dominates the Detroit headlines, but the city’s landmarks tell the deeper story. The Fisher Building has survived nearly a century of the city’s ups and downs. Now a fresh round of careful restoration is a bet that its best years are still ahead. For anyone who has walked its marble arcade or caught a show at the Fisher Theatre, that is worth celebrating. Follow RAW’s community coverage as the revival continues.
Fisher Building FAQ
Is the Fisher Building being restored?
Yes. A $5 million state grant is funding restoration of two ornate entrances and the south and west marble facades, expected to finish in 2026, within a broader revitalization.
What is the Fisher Building?
A 1928 Albert Kahn skyscraper in New Center, known as Detroit’s largest art object for its 28-story tower, hand-painted arcade ceiling, marble corridors, and bronze detailing.
Who owns the Fisher Building?
The Michigan State University Endowment Fund is the majority owner, after a group led by The Platform bought it at a 2015 auction for $12.2 million.
When was it built?
It opened in 1928, built in just 15 months by the Fisher brothers of auto-body fame, who told Kahn to spare no expense.
Can you visit?
Yes. The Fisher is open to the public, with a marble shopping arcade, restaurants, the Fisher Theatre, and offices, in New Center near the QLine.