Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Cornice & Slate

A historic 1890s building brought into the modern age, the Cornice & Slate Building is a shining and elegant example of preserving Detroit’s history.

Hannah-Neumann/Smith performed a historic renovation to the Neo-Italianate facade of the Cornice & Slate Building, a structure dating back to the 1890s that is on the National Register of Historic Places since 1974. The facade is not made of stone, but rather pressed tin. Renovations were on the second and third floors to accommodate 100 Blue Cross Blue Shield employees. The interior features brick original to the building, and wood support beams that were kept intact by reinforcement with steel.  The black framed windows mimic the historical aspect of the building.