Grosse Pointe Shores Village Hall

The Village of Grosse Pointe Shores incorporated in 1911 and, after first holding meetings in local homes, bought this property to build a village hall designed by Albert Kahn. The village council held its first meeting here in 1915. The building originally housed local government offices, including police and fire stations, and also served as a community center with motion pictures, town dances, and the first public library in the Grosse Pointes. In 1929, the upper level was converted into apartments for public safety officers. In the 1960s, fire doors were enlarged for new fire trucks and office renovations modernized the interior. In 1982, after the ceiling of the village superintendent's office fell in, structural engineers found the hall unsafe for continued use. The council then hired architect Robert C. Wakely to lead a restoration and renovation that fixed structural problems and made the building barrier-free with a new elevator tower, staircase, and side entrance. Wakely preserved Albert Kahn's structural design and style while adding work that fit the restored arches and brickwork of the original building. After renovation was completed in 1984, the village hall received four architectural awards for preserving historic integrity while making necessary changes.

Village of Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan · United States