Water Board Building - Photos Interior
Water Board Building
The building's famous elevator doors on the first floor
A view at the ceiling inside the banking room on the ground floor.
The triangular lobby is small, now somewhat crowded with such later additions as a security desk. The eastern wall contains the centered Randolph entrance, while the other two walls contain three elevator doors each.
The Art-Deco style brass elevator doors are framed in green marble, and contain symbols of the City of Detroit.
In the west angle of the lobby is the entrance to the two-story-tall banking room, lined with buff marble, whose generally triangular space is redefined by colossal cream marble Tuscan columns carrying an oval muralled ceiling whose center panel features Neptune, God of the Sea (and, therefore water).
The banking room is much altered in its details, the original teller's cages, light fixtures, and other equipment having been replaced. Nonetheless, it retains its intended monumental quality.
The banking room is much altered in its details, the original teller's cages, light fixtures, and other equipment having been replaced. Nonetheless, it retains its intended monumental quality.
The fifth floor Board Room occupies the same space in the western corner of the building with its floor plan much the shape of a mushroom.
The Board Room is entered from the elevator lobby through walnut double doors flanked by matching fluted pilasters supporting a full entablature. The frieze of the entablature has the words "Board Room" printed across it in large gold lettering.
The Board Room within is paneled in walnut from floor to ceiling. All furnishings and fixtures in the Board Room are original to the building.
On the east of the board room, the ceiling mural depicts the official seal of the City of Detroit in grey tones set in a red and gold octagon.
A view at the elevator lobby on the fifth floor.
Another view from the triangular shaped lobby into the banking room.
Though the original light fixtures were replaced, the current ones complement the banking room's design beautifully.
Though the original light fixtures were replaced, the current ones complement the banking room's design beautifully.
Here's a close-up view of one of the ornate elevator doors on the first floor