The Palms Apartments is a pivotal early work in the career of architect Albert Kahn, marking a major milestone in the development of modern construction techniques. Designed while Kahn was still in partnership with George D. Mason, the building represents Kahn’s first use of steel-reinforced concrete - a material he would later refine and elevate in his iconic industrial designs.

In the Palms, reinforced concrete was used for the floors, while the walls remained load-bearing masonry. At the time, the use of reinforced concrete was still experimental, though European architects like François Hennebique and Auguste Perret had begun to explore its potential. A key figure behind this innovation was Julius Kahn, Albert’s brother and the project’s chief engineer.

Shortly after the completion of The Palms, Julius developed the scientifically precise “Kahn System” of concrete reinforcement. This system revolutionized modern architecture and would be widely adopted in industrial buildings. To support production of these components, Julius founded the Concrete Steel Company of Detroit, which later became Truscon Steel Company and was eventually absorbed by Republic Steel of Cleveland.

Just two years after The Palms, Albert Kahn used a full reinforced concrete structure (Building #10) for the Packard Motor Car Company factory, the first of its kind in Detroit and a turning point in American industrial architecture. The Palms was named after Francis Palms, a wealthy investor and son-in-law of Joseph Campau, one of Detroit’s most powerful 19th-century real estate speculators. Francis Palms was a major backer of the apartment building and lived nearby along East Jefferson Avenue.

The Palms’ interior has been fully renovated and is ready for occupancy, with a formal reopening which took place on Sep. 17, 2025.