One of the more architecturally elegant automotive places to see is the GM Tech Center in Warren, Michigan. It has even been named a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior. It was dedicated on May 19th, 1956, and the featured speaker was President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The dedication was televised nationally. When it opened in 1956, it was the largest corporate building project in the world. It cost $125,000,000 to build. The Center sits on 710 acres. Of all the photos from inside the lobby of the Research Administration Building, few are as visually stunning as those taken by James Haefner. The featured photo in this post is a Haefner photo of the circular staircase in the Research Administration Building. It was designed by Kevin Roche and is nicknamed the “Floating Staircase”. Each individual stair is a three-quarter ton piece of Norwegian granite. Support is provided by thin cylinder rods anchored at the top and bottom. Click THIS LINK to take you to James Haefner’s gallery. Enjoy!
GM Technical Center
