Unique Detroit office building designed by World Trade Center architect up for auction

DETROIT (WJBK) - A Detroit office building creatively designed by a World Trade Center architect is going up for auction next Thursday.

Bidding for the 60-year-old multi-use office building runs 9 a.m. July 20 through 2 p.m. July 27.

The building, about 10,500 square feet, was formerly home to the American Concrete Institute, according to michiganmordern.org.

They say the one-story rectangular structure has a sky-lit hallway that runs the length of the building, with offices on each side.

Built in 1958, it was designed by Minoru Yamasaki, who also helped design the World Trade Center. He also appeared on the cover of Time magazine.

With a saw-tooth roof, the building is actually raised four feet above ground, accessed by concrete stairs.

There's a screen made of concrete pipe sections, as well as pre-cast concrete panels used to screen basement level windows.

The heavy usage of concrete, of course, an homage to becoming the home of the American Concrete Institute.

Michigan Mondern says Yamasaki was given heavy creative freedom -- with the idea that the designer would use the project to show off the capabilities of concrete when it's used as building material.

After this project, Yamasaki designed the Wayne State University College of Education building.

The office building is currently partially leased at $54,000 per year.