The Guardian Building stands at 500 Griswold Street in Detroit's Financial District. The Union Trust Company built it from 1928 to 1929, and it was originally called the Union Trust Building. Wirt C. Rowland of Smith, Hinchman and Grylls designed it in an Art Deco style with Art Moderne elements and Mayan Revival touches. The main frame rises 32 stories, capped by two asymmetric spires, and the spire reaches 632 feet (192.6 meters).
The exterior is brick, tile, limestone and terra cotta in geometric patterns, and Rowland specified Monel metal for exposed metalwork. A three-story vaulted lobby uses Pewabic and Rookwood tile, with murals and mosaics by Ezra Winter.
It served as the Army's wartime production command center in World War II. A National Historic Landmark since 1989, it is now an office building owned by Wayne County.
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