The 14-story Maccabees Building, a 1927 Albert Kahn landmark on Wayne State’s campus, was evacuated Today after a fire broke out near its upper floors.
A fire broke out This afternoon at the Maccabees Building on Wayne State University’s campus in midtown Detroit, sending thick smoke rising above Woodward Avenue and prompting a full evacuation of one of the tallest structures on campus. Multiple Detroit Fire Department crews responded to the scene at 5057 Woodward Ave., near the intersection with Warren Avenue.
City officials confirmed the fire was under control as of early afternoon, with no injuries reported.
Wayne State University issued a campus alert at 1:24 p.m. notifying students and staff that the building had been evacuated and asking people to avoid the surrounding area. A university spokesperson did not have additional details available at that time, and the Detroit Fire Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A building with deep roots in Detroit history
The Maccabees Building is among the most architecturally significant structures on Wayne State’s campus. The 14-story tower opened in 1927 and was designed by Albert Kahn, one of the most influential architects in Detroit‘s history and the man responsible for dozens of the city’s most recognized industrial and civic buildings.
The structure currently houses faculty offices, making it an active part of the university’s daily operations rather than a ceremonial or administrative landmark.
What authorities have said
John Roach, a spokesman for the city of Detroit, confirmed that the Detroit Fire Department reported the fire as under control and that no injuries had been reported as of Wednesday afternoon. Beyond that, few details were available from official sources in the immediate hours following the incident.
Smoke was visible from a significant distance, with video footage captured by local news crews showing it billowing from the upper portion of the building into the cold midday air.
This is a developing story.