Argonaut Building, Art Deco office building in New Center, Detroit, United States.
The Argonaut Building is an eleven-story office structure made of red-brown brick and limestone located in New Center, featuring a distinctive elevator tower that extends higher than the main facade. The building contains student housing units and serves as headquarters for a watch manufacturer.
The building was constructed in 1928 as a General Motors research facility where major automotive innovations, including the Hydramatic transmission, were first developed. Later it transitioned from industrial production to educational use, reflecting Detroit's shift from manufacturing to new kinds of work.
The building now houses creative study programs that draw on its industrial past, connecting students to the innovation that once happened within these walls. The space reflects how Detroit transforms older structures into centers for new ideas and learning.
The building is located at 485 West Milwaukee Avenue in a central area that is easy to reach on foot or by car. Visitors should note that portions of the building house private student residences, so access to certain areas may be restricted during regular hours.
The east side of the building features an unusual architectural element called the stairway to nowhere, an incomplete or purely decorative structure that defies immediate explanation. This quirk has intrigued local observers and architecture enthusiasts for years, adding a layer of mystery to the building's design.
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