The Paterson Building

The Paterson Building is a three-story Art Deco office structure in Flint with a complete basement level and garage space. Medical offices, law firms, and retail shops occupy the interior along Third Street.

The structure was completed in 1931 following a fire and was built by William A. Paterson, who had manufactured carriages and automobiles in Flint since 1869. Its construction replaced damaged earlier structures on the site.

The building displays artistic Art Deco details across its exterior and interior surfaces that reflect 1930s design language. These ornamental features are visible to visitors and shape the impression when entering the space.

The building sits at the intersection of South Saginaw Street and Third Street in the downtown area and is easy to locate. Recent restoration work has modernized and preserved the structure for continued use.

The building changed hands multiple times, at one point under the ownership of a former NBA player, before returning to the Collison family. These ownership shifts show the shifting role of the location in the local economy.

Location: Michigan

Inception: 1931

GPS coordinates: 43.01440,-83.68890

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:04