7 years ago
Detroit Packard Plant
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Recent status | Under Construction |
Location # | 18819 |
Sections of the second floor have collapsed onto the first floor, the sixth floor is entirely made of wood, and has sections collapsing as well. There are a few gaps on the first floor that one must be aware of, and former elevator shafts that should be avoided as well. The weaker parts of the building at the rear are collapsing, with an elevator add-on completely collapsing to the ground around 2013-2015.
Body by Fisher. A phrase that many were, and still are, familiar with. Contained on an emblem on the door sill plate of GM vehicles until the mid 1990s, the origin of this phrase date back to the founding of the Fisher Body Company in 1908. The company was founded by Charles and Fred Fisher, who later invited their 5 younger brothers into the business. The company grew rapidly, by 1913 having a capacity to produce 100 000 auto bodies per year, with customers including Ford, General Motors, and Studebaker. Just one year later, in 1914, they became the worlds largest manufacturer of auto bodies. In 1916, they changed their name to Fisher Body Corporation, and now had a capacity of 370 000 auto bodies per year. Their range of customers increased as well, now including Cadillac, Buick, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Packard, and many more.
Three years later, in 1919, the company constructed Fisher Body Plant 21 on Piquette Street, designed by Albert Kahn. Also in 1919, a deal was set up with the President of General Motors, who bought 60% of the company, and bought the remaining 40% in 1926. In 1944, the Fisher Brothers resigned from General Motors to focus on other interests, such as founding Fisher & Company in 1947, continuing the Fisher name to this day. The last of the Fisher Brothers died in 1972, and the Fisher Body Corporation was dissolved at the end of 1984. Fisher Body Plant 21 was later purchased from General Motors by Carter Color Coat Company, which ended up closing in 1993, leaving the factory abandoned.
For the most part, the lower floors of the factory are fairly empty, aside from the occasional piece of machinery left behind, or the broken down walls. There are plenty of places to get photos down the length of the factory, with the symmetrical support columns providing great framing. The best part of the factory is on the 5th floor, where an entire section of an assembly line has been left behind, covered in colorful graffiti, with tracks running from machine to machine.
9 months ago
currently under construction to be converted into condos. probably still possible for the next few months