The building at 801 West Lafayette, commonly referred to today as the Kahn Garage, was designed by Albert Kahn Associates and completed in 1925 as part of The Detroit News complex. Built to accommodate the growing automotive needs of a bustling media empire, it served as the parking garage and service center for The Detroit News’ delivery trucks and staff vehicles.

This utilitarian structure was ahead of its time, constructed as a multi-level, concrete-frame garage, representing one of Detroit’s earliest large-scale parking facilities. It was designed with subtle Art Deco influences while also visually complementing the adjacent Detroit News Building, also designed by Kahn. It shares materials such as buff-colored brick and limestone trim, and once had similar steel sash windows in its expansive bays.

The garage was utilized by top editors and executives of the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press until 2014, when it was sold to Bedrock Real Estate, part of Dan Gilbert’s real estate portfolio. A major renovation followed in 2015, overseen by Neumann/Smith Architecture.

The original steel-sash windows, many of which had been boarded up or damaged, were replaced with custom-designed metal mesh infill that honors the original fenestration pattern while improving ventilation. The interior structure was preserved, with modern systems added to bring it up to code. Today, it serves as a secure parking structure for Bedrock tenants and downtown visitors, blending preservation with adaptive reuse.

The building stands as a rare example of early 20th-century industrial garage architecture, executed by the city’s most prominent architect. Both, the Detroit News Building and the Kahn Garage were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.