[3] Matilda Dodge Wilson, John's widow, married in 1925 to Alfred Wilson, was interested in stage productions and decided to use part of her fortune to build a venue in Detroit to serve as home to a repertory troupe, and to host touring Broadway performers.

[3] She hired the prominent Detroit architectural firm of Smith, Hinchman & Grylls who assigned William Kapp to design the building and spent $1.5 million on the construction.

The Madison Street facade is decorated with orange and tan brick with Pewabic tile and stone accents.

[3] The upper facade is divided into seven bays by stone-covered piers which are capped with terra cotta theatrical masks.

[3] The symphony left for the newly constructed Ford Auditorium in 1956, and the building was used for other purposes, especially a movie theater showing Cinerama films.