The WJR Transmitter Building in Riverview, Michigan: A hidden Art Deco Gem
Standing amidst a wide expanse of open fields in Riverview, Michigan, the WJR transmitter building is an unexpected Art Deco treasure dating back to 1934. Designed by architect Cyril Edward Schley, this compact structure features a dramatic stepped roofline, angular silhouettes, and colorful ceramic tiles—classic hallmarks of the zigzag Art Deco style. From a distance, its bold shapes and jagged contours seem even more striking because they are unobstructed by any surrounding development. As of the early 21st century, suburban sprawl has not fully reached this section of metropolitan Detroit, allowing the transmitter’s unique profile to remain a solitary statement of 1930s design ingenuity.
One of the most distinctive aspects is the ornate arched entryway, which echoes the building’s theatrical look—no surprise, given Schley’s earlier work with Detroit’s famed theater architect, C. Howard Crane. Richly colored ceramic tiles provide an additional layer of ornamentation, highlighting the attention to detail lavished on a building that might otherwise have been a purely functional structure. These decorative flourishes, in combination with the irregular roof heights, create the distinctive silhouette that still impresses visitors today.
Adding to the building’s unique appeal is its remarkable setting. With no nearby structures to distract from its features, the transmitter building remains front and center. A secure fence prevents close inspection, but even from a distance, onlookers can admire the zigzag roofline and rhythmic patterns that typify the Art Deco style. Its isolation also underscores the architectural intent: to stand as an emblem of progress, technology, and style at a time when radio held an essential place in American homes.
WJR’s technical achievements were as significant as its architectural ambition. According to old newspaper accounts, the station’s power soared from 10,000 to 50,000 watts on September 29, 1934, making it the most powerful radio station in Michigan. The single‐mast steel tower, topping out at an impressive 733 feet, was described as one of only five of its kind in the United States. Period sources touted its capacity to deliver clearer reception over hundreds of miles, with special lighting installed both above and below to safeguard aviators. This innovative engineering design helped solidify WJR’s status as a powerhouse in the early days of broadcast radio, drawing in larger audiences and eliminating “blind spots” that had once hindered reception.
Today, although suburban areas have edged closer, the WJR transmitter building continues to command attention as an architectural and technological landmark from the Depression era. It exemplifies the creative marriage of form and function: a utility building with bold, geometric lines and carefully placed ornamentation that speak to the optimism and flair of the 1930s. Even though it is fenced and inaccessible, its striking appearance remains largely intact—an enduring reminder that, at the height of the radio age, WJR’s quest for a stronger broadcast signal also gave Detroit one of its most distinctive Art Deco structures.
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Detroit 1701
