The apartment building was purchased by Wayne State University in the 1950s, and was used for student housing[5] until its demolition in 1996.

Vertical elements on the façade were created by rectangular columns and tall, narrow windows on the upper floors.

The exterior also featured dentil moldings, a broken scroll pediment above the second level, and decorative railings.

[4] The entryway was flanked on each side by a spiral column with classical type carvings just below the capital.

However, the Santa Fe Apartments were faced with grey stone tiles with thin mortar joints in between.