Editing Guardian Building (section)

==Architecture==
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The main frame of the skyscraper rises 32 stories, capped by two asymmetric [[spire]]s, one extending for seven additional stories. The roof height of the building is 496&nbsp;ft (151&nbsp;m), the top floor is 489 feet (149&nbsp;m), and the spire reaches 632&nbsp;ft (192.6&nbsp;m). Its nickname, ''Cathedral of Finance'', alludes both to the building's resemblance to a cathedral—with its tower over the main entrance and octagonal [[apse]] at the opposite end—and to New York City's [[Woolworth Building]], which had earlier been dubbed the ''Cathedral of Commerce.''<ref name="Guardian"/> [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] themes are common inside and outside the building. [[Wirt C. Rowland]], of the [[Smith, Hinchman & Grylls]] firm, was the building's architect. The building rises from a granite and stone six story base with two sculptures created by [[Corrado Parducci]] flanking the Griswold Street entrance.

The architect closely supervised the building of the exterior, which includes [[brickwork]] with [[tile]], [[limestone]], and [[terra cotta]]. The colored brick that Rowland selected for the exterior came to be marketed by the manufacturer as “Union Trust Brick” and, after 1939, as “Guardian brick”.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/guardianbuilding0000tott/page/136 <!-- quote="Guardian Brick". --> ''The Guardian Building: Cathedral of Finance''] James W. Tottis; Wayne State University Press, 2008 page 136</ref> Rowland designed furniture for the bank's offices as well as tableware, linens, and waitress uniforms for a restaurant in the building.

The building's three-story, vaulted lobby is lavishly decorated with [[Pewabic Pottery|Pewabic]] and [[Rookwood Pottery|Rookwood]] tile. The semi-circular exterior domes are filled with [[Pewabic Pottery]]; [[Mary Chase Perry Stratton]] worked closely with the architect in the design of the symbolic decorations.<ref name="Pewabic">Nolan, Jenny (February 13, 2000).[http://info.detnews.com/redesign/history/story/historytemplate.cfm?id=23 Pewabic tile, Detroit's art treasure] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130121110309/http://info.detnews.com/redesign/history/story/historytemplate.cfm?id=23 |date=2013-01-21 }}. Michigan History, ''The Detroit News''. Retrieved June 6, 2008.</ref> (''See'' Savage, infra.)  A [[Monel]] metal screen divides the lobby from the banking hall on the second floor, the screen features a clock in the center designed by [[Tiffany glass|Tiffany]]. The building includes works by muralist [[Ezra Winter]] in the mosaic above the main lobby desk and the mural at the end of the banking hall.<ref name="Tottis">{{Cite book | author=Tottis, James W. | title=The Guardian Building: Cathedral of Finance | publisher=Wayne State University Press | year=2008 | isbn=978-0-8143-3385-3 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/guardianbuilding0000tott }}</ref> The large mosaic is of a pine tree and text that states the Union Trust Company's purpose for the building, "Founded on principles of faith and understating, this building is erected for the purpose of continuing and maintaining the ideals of financial services which promoted the organization of the institution". The mural highlights Michigan's industries such as manufacturing, farming and mining. In order to dampen the sound in the banking hall, its cement-plaster ceiling features a hand-painted canvas ceiling, which was stretched over a mat of horsehair.