J.L. Hudson Department Store and Addition
Encyclopedia
The J.L. Hudson Building ("Hudson's") was a department store in Detroit, Michigan
, which occupied the address of 1206 Woodward Avenue. It was constructed beginning in 1911, with additions throughout the years, before being "completed" in 1946, and named after the company's founder, Joseph Lowthian Hudson
. Hudson's first building on the site actually opened in 1891 but was demolished in 1923 for a new structure. The building was destroyed in a controlled demolition
on October 24, 1998, with many people in Hart Plaza (Detroit) and Dieppe Gardens
(Windsor, Ontario
) watching from safe distances.
Hudson's boasted about 2.2 million sq. ft. of retail and office space, included several restaurants and was built in the Chicago School
architectural style
. The facade was red brick above the second floor. Below that, it consisted of polished pink granite panels. Terra-cotta cornices and rosettes were extensively employed, along with ornamental ironwork. "JLH"- emblazoned ovals decorated frosted windows on the mezzanine and 3rd through 5th floors.
The building measured 439 feet (133.8 m) tall from its second basement to the top of the penthouse tower. It was also topped by a 110 feet (33.5 m) high flagpole.
Hudson's was demolished by Controlled Demolition, Inc.
at exactly 5:47 pm, October 24, 1998. 20,000 people watched as the building was imploded which turned the building into a 60 feet (18.3 m) tall pile of debris. The demolition of this building accidentally damaged a section of the elevated Detroit People Mover
in downtown Detroit.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, which occupied the address of 1206 Woodward Avenue. It was constructed beginning in 1911, with additions throughout the years, before being "completed" in 1946, and named after the company's founder, Joseph Lowthian Hudson
Joseph Lowthian Hudson
Joseph Lowthian Hudson , aka J. L. Hudson, was the merchant who founded the Hudson's department store in Detroit, Michigan....
. Hudson's first building on the site actually opened in 1891 but was demolished in 1923 for a new structure. The building was destroyed in a controlled demolition
Controlled demolition
Controlled demolition refers to:* Demolition, the tearing-down of buildings and other structures* Controlled Demolition, Inc., Phoenix, Maryland firm that specializes in the use of explosives to create a controlled demolition of a structure...
on October 24, 1998, with many people in Hart Plaza (Detroit) and Dieppe Gardens
Parks in the city of Windsor, Ontario
Windsor's Department of Parks and Recreation maintains of green space, 180 parks, of trails, of sidewalk, 60 parking lots, vacant lands, natural areas and forest cover within the City of Windsor, as well as the Bike Trails, Bike Lanes, and Bike-Friendly Streets....
(Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
) watching from safe distances.
The structure
Designed by Smith, Hinchman, & Grylls, Hudson's consisted of approximately 33 levels: five basements, main floor, mezzanine, 2nd through 15th floors, 15 1/2 floor, 16th through 21st floors, 21 1/2 floor, and 22nd through 25th floors. Only the upper two basements through the 12th floor covered the entire footprint of the structure. A tower rose over 400 feet above the Farmer Street side. On all 4 sides of it, porcelain-covered copper letters flashed "HUDSON'S" in red neon.Hudson's boasted about 2.2 million sq. ft. of retail and office space, included several restaurants and was built in the Chicago School
Chicago school (architecture)
Chicago's architecture is famous throughout the world and one style is referred to as the Chicago School. The style is also known as Commercial style. In the history of architecture, the Chicago School was a school of architects active in Chicago at the turn of the 20th century...
architectural style
Architectural style
Architectural styles classify architecture in terms of the use of form, techniques, materials, time period, region and other stylistic influences. It overlaps with, and emerges from the study of the evolution and history of architecture...
. The facade was red brick above the second floor. Below that, it consisted of polished pink granite panels. Terra-cotta cornices and rosettes were extensively employed, along with ornamental ironwork. "JLH"- emblazoned ovals decorated frosted windows on the mezzanine and 3rd through 5th floors.
The building measured 439 feet (133.8 m) tall from its second basement to the top of the penthouse tower. It was also topped by a 110 feet (33.5 m) high flagpole.
Hudson's was demolished by Controlled Demolition, Inc.
Controlled Demolition, Inc.
Controlled Demolition, Inc. , founded by Jack Loizeaux in 1947, is a firm headquartered in Phoenix, Maryland that specializes in the use of explosives to create a controlled demolition of a structure, with the structure collapsing on itself into a pile of debris contained within the site of the...
at exactly 5:47 pm, October 24, 1998. 20,000 people watched as the building was imploded which turned the building into a 60 feet (18.3 m) tall pile of debris. The demolition of this building accidentally damaged a section of the elevated Detroit People Mover
Detroit People Mover
The Detroit People Mover is a automated people mover system which operates on a single set of tracks, and encircles downtown Detroit, Michigan....
in downtown Detroit.
Records
- Tallest department store / retail building in the world.
- Second largest department store building in the United States, exceeded by Macy'sMacy'sMacy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
in New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. - Tallest building to have a controlled implosion.
- Largest building to have a controlled implosion.