[2] Thompson hired Richard H. Marr, a well-known Detroit architect, to design the building.

Its original purpose was to provide space for all architectural professionals and trades in one building.

[2] After 1940 both Marr and Burrowes moved out, and the building's association with the field of architecture seems to have ended.

[4] It is the tallest building in the immediate vicinity, and despite the sweeping changes elsewhere in the neighborhood, the exterior is in good condition.

The first floor lobby, the most significant area within the building, is still in good condition and looks much as it was designed.