Historic Detroit

Every building in Detroit has a story — we're here to share it

Walker-Roehrig Building

This Albert Kahn-designed building opened in 1936 on Lafayette Boulevard and Third Street as the home of WWJ-AM's studios.

The station was owned by the Detroit News, and first broadcast from the newspaper's building across the street. The News was the first paper in the country to have its own radio station, broadcasting for the first time Sept. 1, 1920. A year later, it was issued the call letters WBL, before becoming WWJ on March 3, 1922. The station survives today as Detroit's only all-news radio station but has since moved to Southfield.

This building is known as the Walker-Roehrig Building, home to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

The building was updated in recent years to offer nearly 55,000 square feet of office space, 14,000 square feet of hotel amenities, more than 6,000 square feet of restaurant space and more than 2,000 square feet of first-floor retail.

*Update: * After an $80 million Dollar investment, the historic Walker-Roehrig Building is now home to the 154-room, Art Deco inspired Cambria Detroit Downtown Hotel.

More on this building coming soon.

Last updated 09/08/2023