1300 Lafayette East Cooperative

1300 Lafayette East Cooperative is a 30-story residential building in Lafayette Park with a two-story marble lobby at its entrance. It contains 336 residential units ranging from studios to four-bedroom apartments, plus a fitness center and commercial offices on the mezzanine level.

Architect Gunnar Birkerts designed this reinforced concrete building, completed in 1964 as a residential tower. Residents organized in the late 1970s and transformed it into a tenant-controlled cooperative, a pivotal shift in its operation.

The building became a cooperative in 1979 when residents took control, creating a community-run housing model that shaped how people live and make decisions together. This approach remains visible in how the place operates today.

The building offers units with views toward downtown Detroit and the Detroit River from many windows. Keep in mind this is primarily a private residential building, so access to interior spaces may be limited to residents and their guests.

Large numerals on the roof display the address 1300 and can be seen from Detroit and even from Windsor across the international border. These striking roof numbers serve as a visible landmark that stands out in the skyline.

Location: Detroit

Inception: 1964

Architects: Gunnar Birkerts

Floors above the ground: 30

GPS coordinates: 42.33655,-83.03461

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:53